Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Wednesday unveiled three initiatives to strengthen early childhood development, focusing on parental engagement, early learning and responsive care for children aged 0–6 years, at the inaugural session of the two-day National Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Conclave here.
The initiatives were launched by the Department of Women and Child Development in collaboration with Rocket Learning at LYFE Hotels.
The conclave, being held on November 11–12, aims to strengthen Early Childhood Care and Education through an integrated approach focusing on nutrition, healthcare, early stimulation and play-based learning during the first six years of a child’s life.
The three initiatives include digital Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials for children aged 0–6 years to promote early childhood care, learning and parental engagement; a video highlighting the importance of the early years and responsive parenting under ECCE; and Supalana, Rocket Learning’s Birth-to-3 programme, aimed at strengthening early childhood development.
The inaugural session witnessed the participation of senior government officials, policymakers, health and education experts, and development partners.
Monisha Banerjee, Director of the Women and Child Development Department, delivered the welcome address, while Commissioner-cum-Secretary Dr Mrinalini Darswal presented Odisha’s journey towards strengthening ECCE.
Delivering the keynote address, paediatrician and former Deputy Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Soumya Swaminathan, highlighted the critical importance of the first six years in shaping a child’s lifelong health, learning and development.
Former NITI Aayog Member Dr V K Paul spoke about strengthening ECCE through an empowered Anganwadi workforce and a holistic approach to early childhood development.
Speaking on the state’s ‘Asa Kheliba Asa Sikhiba’ (Come, Let’s Play, Let’s Learn) initiative, Dr Darswal highlighted the role of technology, empowered educators and active parental engagement in strengthening early learning systems. She also emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts with the government to deliver quality early childhood development at scale.
Swayamprava Mohanty, Additional Secretary (ECCE) in the Women and Child Development Department, proposed the vote of thanks at the inaugural session.
Three panel discussions were organised on the first day of the conclave, covering key dimensions of early childhood development.
The first session, titled ‘The First Three Years: Nurturing Health, Nutrition and Early Stimulation (0–3 Years)’, deliberated on essential care, nutrition, early stimulation and Odisha’s community-based ECCE model.
The panel comprised Public Health Consultant Dr Ramya Pinnamaneni, Cuttack Collector and District Magistrate Dattatraya Bhausaheb Shinde, and Inspector General of Police, Central Range, Odisha, Dr Satyajit Naik. Sukhna Sawhney, Education and Content Lead at Rocket Learning, moderated the discussion.
The second session, ‘Building School Readiness: Play-Based Learning and Model Anganwadi Centre Delivery (3–6 Years)’, focused on the national roadmap for pre-school education and strengthening Anganwadi Centres as quality early learning spaces.
The panellists included Dr Rita Pattnaik, Additional Director, SPNIWCD; Chandrika Nayak, Deputy Director, SCERT; Dr Beena Koshy, Professor, CMC Vellore; and Radhika Jha of the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development, who joined virtually. Monisha Banerjee moderated the discussion.
The third session, titled ‘Partnerships for Early Childhood Development’, explored interdepartmental convergence, public-private partnerships and corporate social responsibility (CSR)-led interventions, drawing insights from Meghalaya’s Early Childhood Development Mission.
The panel featured Ronald Kynta, COO of the Meghalaya ECD Mission; Nirupa Behera, Deputy Director (Pedagogy), OSEPA; and Itishree Das, Special Secretary to the Odisha government in the Women and Child Development Department. Radhika Mathur, State Initiative and Policy Lead, moderated the session.
The first day of the conclave reaffirmed the importance of an integrated early childhood development framework based on quality nutrition, healthcare, early learning, an empowered Anganwadi workforce, active parental participation and convergence among government departments.
The conclave will conclude on November 12.
