Bhubaneswar: In a major digital push to strengthen grassroots child welfare systems, the Odisha government on Wednesday launched the ‘AWESOME’ (Anganwadi Welfare & Services Oversight Monitoring Everywhere) mobile application.
The initiative aims to digitally empower Anganwadi Centres across the state by enhancing transparency, accountability, and community participation.
The app was officially launched by Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida at the Lok Seva Bhawan Convention Centre during a skill development workshop for Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs), Project Officers, and District Social Welfare Officers.
“At the grassroots level, 74,220 Anganwadi Centres will be upgraded into fully functional centres. Each centre must have its own building, proper sanitation, and electricity. The ‘AWESOME’ app will help monitor these parameters and enable real-time data tracking, including enrolment numbers and operational details,” said Parida while addressing the media.
In addition to digitisation efforts, the state is preparing for World Breastfeeding Week (August 1–7) with an awareness campaign titled “Asa Buli Jiba Anganwadi,” which will run from August 1 to 11. As part of the campaign, community members and guardians will be encouraged to visit Anganwadi Centres, assess services, and submit feedback through the ‘AWESOME’ app or on-site feedback forms.
Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Women and Child Development Department Principal Secretary Shubha Sharma, W&CD Director Monisha Banerjee, and other senior departmental officers were present at the event.
The Chief Secretary urged CDPOs to adopt people-centric strategies, highlighting the crucial role of health, nutrition, and early childhood education in the Vision Odisha 2036 framework. Shubha Sharma emphasised the importance of institutional training, setting the tone for the day’s workshop sessions.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed between the Department and the National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD) to ensure continuous training and capacity building of ICDS officers and staff in Odisha. Representing NIPCCD, Additional Director Sanghamitra Barik stated that the partnership would enhance technical knowledge and professional skills at the field level.
The workshop featured technical sessions on the administrative, financial, and legal responsibilities of CDPOs. Financial Advisor and Special Secretary Elora Mohanty delivered an in-depth presentation on the roles of CDPOs as Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs), followed by Itishree Das, who explained pension rules, leave procedures, performance appraisals, and travel allowances.
In the final session, Additional Secretary Jyotishankar Mahapatra provided detailed guidance on the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act and workplace safeguards. The workshop reaffirmed the government’s commitment to empowering its frontline functionaries and building an accountable, responsive system of care for Odisha’s women and children.
