Bhubaneswar: Chief Secretary today reviewed various social sectors and called for further strengthening of data analysis, departmental coordination and continuous monitoring.
In the ‘PRAYAS’ meeting held at Lok Seva Bhawan today, various indicators related to School and Mass Education, Health and Family Welfare, and Women and Child Development Departments were reviewed. Emphasis was laid on solving problems identified at the district level through data analysis.
Secretaries of Women and Child Development, School and Mass Education, Health and Family Welfare, ST, SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Departments, along with departmental directors and senior officers attended the meeting. All RDCs, District Collectors and District Magistrates also joined via virtual mode.
Review of WCD stressed on making child and maternal nutrition more effective and ensuring nutritional security at household level. Coordinated efforts for fresh vegetables through nutrition gardens, home vegetable cultivation, distribution of seedlings and involvement of SHGs were discussed. Regular monitoring of nutritional status at Anganwadis, growth measurement of children, home visits and capacity building of Anganwadi workers were highlighted.
In education sector, review focused on improving Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) skills at primary level, with emphasis on regular monitoring of learning, use of teaching materials and assessment of learning outcomes.
Health and Family Welfare Department review emphasised reducing maternal and neonatal mortality, newborn care and infection prevention. The Secretary informed that neonatal mortality rate has decreased between January and July 2026. Citing success stories, he said a baby born weighing 500 grams at Nabarangpur DHH SNCU recovered and returned home weighing 1.6 kg after 78 days of treatment, while a premature baby weighing 900 grams at Mayurbhanj DHH also recovered.
The meeting also discussed infection prevention and control, hand hygiene, hospital sanitation, biomedical waste management and regular retraining of health workers. A massive X-ray screening campaign will be launched from September 1 under the 100-day campaign of “TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan”.
Collectors have been tasked to ensure maximum use of X-ray machines, organise camps in remote areas and ensure daily monitoring.
Examples from Angul district on reduction in maternal deaths and Rayagada district’s campaign against anaemia among school students through screening and IFA tablets were shared.
The meeting emphasised making social sector services more effective and people-oriented through data-driven monitoring, inter-departmental coordination and time-bound resolution of deficiencies under PRAYAS.
