In a significant step towards combating child malnutrition, the Odisha government has launched the ‘Suposhit Odisha Mission’ under the broader Odisha Nutrition Mission.
The initiative aims to provide proper nutrition to every child in the state, ensuring their health and overall development. Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida inaugurated the mission today at the conference hall of the Women and Child Development Department in Lok Seva Bhawan.
The mission focuses on transforming Anganwadi centres into dedicated nutrition hubs, where underweight and frail children will receive specialized care. Steps will be taken to address nutritional deficiencies through targeted interventions. Additionally, the department has introduced a review and monitoring dashboard to analyse data from the Poshan Tracker in real-time, identifying gaps and enabling prompt corrective actions.
To strengthen outcomes, a joint advisory will be issued to promote inter-departmental collaboration. Departments including Women and Child Development, Health and Family Welfare, Mission Shakti, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water, Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes Development and Minority and Backward Classes Welfare, Sports and Youth Services, and School and Mass Education will work together on an integrated service delivery model. This collaborative effort targets reducing anaemia, stunting, and wasting among beneficiaries.
Deputy Chief Minister Parida emphasised that appropriate measures will be implemented to achieve comprehensive child nutrition across the state. “Every child’s nutritional needs will be met through suitable steps,” she stated.
In addition to the mission launch, a cookbook featuring 100 traditional Odia recipes from various regions of the state was unveiled. The book highlights the unique cultural heritage embedded in Odisha’s diverse cuisine, aiming to make these dishes accessible to people beyond their local areas.
Parida also released a coffee table book on the nutrition landscape in Odisha. This resource will be made available to all, enabling Anganwadi workers, cooks, self-help group members, mothers, and adolescent girls to adopt quality food preparation practices.
Further enhancing safety, special fire safety arrangements will be prioritised at every Anganwadi centre to protect staff and children. Equipment such as sandbags and fire extinguishers will be provided to prevent fire-related accidents.
A sewing unit at the State Institute for Women and Children in Bhubaneswar was also inaugurated. This facility will offer practical training and skill development to Anganwadi workers and supervisors, boosting their income potential.
The event was attended by Principal Secretary of the Department Subha Sharma, Director of Integrated Child Development Services Manisha Banerjee, Additional Secretaries Swayamprava Mahanti, Nilu Mahapatra, Anant Narayan Singh Laguri, and other departmental officials.
This launch marks a holistic approach to child welfare, integrating nutrition, safety, and skill-building for a healthier future generation in Odisha.
