Bhubaneswar: Only 53.4% of Odisha’s Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) currently have functional toilets, Women and Child Development Minister Pravati Parida informed the state assembly on Saturday. The remaining units are expected to be completed by the end of the current financial year.
In a written reply to a question from Paralakhemundi MLA Rupesh Kumar Panigrahi, Minister Parida stated that out of a total of 74,224 AWCs in the state, 39,663 — approximately 53.4% — are currently equipped with child-friendly toilets, all of which are fully operational.
During the previous fiscal year 2024–25, the government allocated Rs 4.09 crore for the construction of new toilets in Anganwadi Centres. However, no funds have been earmarked in the current financial year for either the construction of new toilets or the maintenance of existing ones.
The construction work is being carried out by the Panchayati Raj Department and the Drinking Water Department, both responsible for ensuring that all Anganwadi Centres have proper toilet facilities.
Minister Parida emphasised the government’s commitment to providing child-friendly sanitation in all Anganwadi Centres across the state, noting that these facilities are crucial for the health, hygiene, and overall well-being of children attending the centres.
