Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Tuesday launched the ‘Suposhit Odisha Mission’ to strengthen child nutrition across the state. Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida inaugurated the initiative at the Women and Child Development Department’s conference hall in Lok Seva Bhawan.
The mission, part of the Odisha Nutrition Mission, aims to prevent malnutrition and promote the health and growth of every child. A key target is to transform Anganwadi centers into fully functional ‘Suposhit’ centers, ensuring underweight and weak children receive proper care.
As part of the initiative, the department has introduced a review and monitoring dashboard to track nutrition data and identify gaps for timely intervention. Additionally, a joint consultation mechanism will be set up to enhance coordination among departments for better nutrition outcomes.
Several departments, including Women and Child Development, Health and Family Welfare, Mission Shakti, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water, Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes Development, Minority Communities and Backward Classes Welfare, Sports and Youth Affairs, and School and Mass Education, will collaborate to implement an integrated service delivery model. The initiative focuses on reducing anemia, stunting, and wasting among children.
On the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Parida also launched a coffee table book highlighting Odisha’s nutrition scenario. The book is expected to guide Anganwadi workers, cooks, self-help groups, and women, including mothers and girls, on proper food preparation methods.
In addition, special fire safety arrangements, including sandbags and fire extinguishers, will be installed in all Anganwadi centers to protect children and staff. A sewing unit was also inaugurated at the State Women and Children’s Institute in Bhubaneswar to provide skill development and income-generation opportunities for Anganwadi workers and supervisors.
Prominent attendees at the launch included Shubha Sarma, Principal Secretary of Women and Child Development; Monisha Banerjee, Director of Social Welfare; Swayam Prava Mohanty, Special Secretary; Nilu Mohapatra, Additional Secretary; Ananta Narayan Singh Laguri, Additional Secretary; and several Divisional Officers.
