On Maha Bishuba Sankranti and Odia New Year, Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida inaugurated the innovative programme Aarohan at the ICWS campus in Bhubaneswar.
The Department of Women and Child Development launched the initiative to strengthen early childhood education and ensure a smooth transition of children from Anganwadi centres to Bal Vatika-3.
Parida marked the occasion with a cultural gesture, applying a tikka to children and presenting them with Aarohan kits. She emphasised that the first six years of life are crucial for brain development and highlighted the government’s focus on early childhood learning during Poshan Pakhya 2026. She urged parents to actively participate, stressing that family and society play a vital role in shaping children’s futures.
Commissioner-cum-Secretary Dr Mrunalini Darswal called for cooperation from Anganwadi workers to strengthen centres and accelerate holistic child development. Additional Secretaries Swoyam Prabha Mohanty, Itishree Das, and N. C. Jyoti Ranjan also attended, along with senior officials and partner organisations.
The programme carried the tagline “Ujwala Bhabisyat Pain Pade Agaku” (Step Forward for a Bright Future), symbolising collective responsibility for children’s growth. Parents and Anganwadi workers actively participated, reflecting community support for the initiative.
