Bhubaneswar: The State-Level celebration of World Breastfeeding Week 2025 was held on Tuesday at the Lok Seva Bhawan Convention Centre, led by the Department of Women and Child Development (WCD), Government of Odisha.
This year’s global theme, “Prioritize Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support System,” shaped the event’s agenda, with a strong emphasis on collective responsibility and institutional support for breastfeeding mothers.
Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, gracing the occasion as Chief Guest, underscored the profound physical and emotional bond between mother and child. “Breastfeeding brings the child closer to the mother’s heart,” she said, highlighting its critical health benefits—reducing risks of breast and ovarian cancers in mothers and enhancing emotional well-being for both mother and infant during the recommended six months of exclusive breastfeeding.
In a pioneering move, Odisha inaugurated its first public Breastfeeding Room, virtually launched by the Deputy Chief Minister at the Odisha State Commission for Women Office.
She urged both public and private institutions across the state to replicate this initiative to better support working and lactating mothers.
Calling for community participation, Parida encouraged the public to take part in the “Aas Bulijiba Anganwadi” (Let’s Visit Anganwadi) campaign from August 1 to 15, describing Anganwadis as a “second home for children” and emphasizing the need to upgrade them for better child development services.
Another key highlight of the event was the launch of “Lok Kalyan”, a web-based registration platform for NGOs, developed by the Odisha State Social Welfare Board under the WCD Department. The platform aims to improve transparency, inclusiveness, and accountability in partnership with civil society organizations.
The event saw participation from key stakeholders, including Shubha Sharma, Principal Secretary, WCD; Monisha Banerjee, Director, WCD; Aditya Mahapatra, Additional Director, Health & Family Welfare Department; and Saurabh Bhattacharya, Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF.
Aditya Mahapatra addressed contemporary challenges and misconceptions that hinder breastfeeding practices, especially among young mothers. He emphasized that breastfeeding is not solely a maternal responsibility but a shared societal and governmental duty, urging supportive environments and better nutrition for lactating mothers.
Principal Secretary Shubha Sharma spoke about government schemes for maternal and child welfare and called for their effective implementation at the grassroots level.
The programme opened with a welcome address by Director Monisha Banerjee and concluded with a vote of thanks by Additional Secretary Swaynaprabha Mohanty.
