Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday reviewed the targets and achievements of Women & Child Development Department and the fulfillment of the assurances given in the manifesto. Minister, Women and Child Development, Basanti Hembram presented details of fulfilling the assurances given in the election manifesto and other transformative steps undertaken by the Department during last four years for achieving the targets.
Later in a Press Conference, Hembram said that MAMATA, a flagship scheme of Odisha Government, is conditional cash transfer maternity benefit scheme which aims at reducing maternal and infant mortality by improving the health and nutrition status of pregnant women and lactating mothers and their infants. Since its inception in 2011, more than 56 lakh Pregnant Women & Lactating Mothers, children in the age group of 6 months to 6 years and adolescent girls have benefitted from it.
Rs. 2,706 crores have been e- transferred to the bank accounts of beneficiaries. It has contributed directly to the improved health of pregnant women, infants and Lactating mothers. As part of the 5T strategy of the Department and to introduce greater transparency and accountability, e-Mamata 2.0 has been initiated.
Relaxation given to PVTGs since 2014 for more than 2 live births. 22,733 nos. of PVTG women have benefitted. Mobile based Application under ST initiatives was launched on 25th February 2021 by the Chief Minister of Odisha. AWWs can update all details of pregnant and lactating women through this app to get their cash payments in a timely manner, without any hassles. More than 99% pregnant women have used the mobile app. More than 17.86 lakh SMS on transfer of funds have been sent to beneficiaries.
Ashirbad is a unique scheme of Govt. of Odisha launched to provide support and financial assistance to children who lost their parents during the period of Covid 19 pandemic. Govt. has committed to extend the benefits to such children till they attain the age of 18 years. 51,130 beneficiaries have been included under the scheme till March 2023. In keeping with the 5T goals of the Government, the entire process has been made citizen friendly using the Ashirbad portal.
Payment of assistance is credited into the bank account of the child / guardian on a monthly basis through DBT. There has been a significant improvement in the overall nutritional status of children (stunting, wasting & under weight) in the last twenty years as evident from the NFHS 2 to NFHS-5 survey reports. Under Mo Sarkar, 100% positive feedback has been achieved. More than 26,375 nos. calls attempted to contact Mamata beneficiaries under Mo Sarkar Program to obtain their feedback.
The Budget Provision has increased to almost 10-fold during the last two decades from Rs. 376.86 crores in 2000-01 to Rs 3,670 crores in 2023-24. Programme Expenditure (Budget) has increased from Rs 272.99 crores in 2000- 01 to Rs. 3,641 crores in 2023-24. 108 new posts approved under Anganwadi Services scheme. 93 posts in the pay level of CDPO to be designated as Programme Officers. 13 posts of DSWO / Asst Director / U/S cum-SWO and 2 posts of Deputy Director/ Deputy Secretary have been approved.
Odisha is one of the first states in India to decentralize SNP in April 2011, thereby eliminating involvement of contractors and other suppliers. This decentralized system involves local Women Self Help Groups of the State for production and supply of Take Home Ration (THR). Benefits under the scheme such as Hot cooked Meals and Take Home Ration are being provided to 39.19 lakh beneficiaries across 30 districts.
546 SHGs have been engaged across all districts for production and supply of Take Home ration. This is one of the largest community run programmes in the country. Nutritional norms of the SNP provided in the state is higher than Gol norms.Odisha is the first State in India to initiate the concept of Nutrition Budgeting in the Financial Year (FY) 2020-21 along with Gender Budget, Child Budget and Children’s Policy.
It has enabled the state to stride ahead in improving the nutritional status of the most vulnerable, as well as to focus on issues of social equity and inclusion. To promote dietary diversity for children and for making available green leafy vegetables, drumstick, papaya etc. on a daily basis, around 50,000 nutri-gardens have been developed in convergence with PR & DW Department and OLM, in AWCs as well as in the houses of SAM children.
Millets as nutrient-dense food is promoted under supplementary nutrition. Ragi Ladoos are provided to pre- school children across all AWCs in Keonjhar and Sundergarh district out of DMF funds. Similarly, millet based THR, and millet khichdi has been piloted in two blocks in Koraput and Malkangiri districts. Spirulina / Chikki (over & above the SNP) is given to children (7 months to 3 years) in Sundargarh & Jharsuguda districts under DMF funds.
The Department has developed e-Manadeya portal for ensuring timely release of honorarium to the AWWs and AWHs across the state. The portal has helped in streamlining and automation of the payment module for field functionaries. 100% honorariums are being processed through the portal. Rs 756.90 crores has been released to AWWs and AWHs as honorarium and Rs 54.65 cr has been released to AWWs and AWHs as incentives under POSHAN Abhiyaan through the portal till April 2023.
Purna Aahara or Community based management of acute malnutrition is being implemented in all districts across the state since November 2022. The programme was scaled up after successful piloting in Koraput and Nabarangpur districts. SAM children are provided with Augmented Take Home Ration for 112 days and 1 egg each day along with requisite medicines. 36 SHGs are engaged at the districts for preparation and supply of ATHR. Of the total 37,692 SAM Children (6 months to 5 years) enrolled under CMAM programme. 20,359 have completed 112 days and among these children 10,826 have been cured to Normal with a success rate of 53.17
percent.
Subha Sharma, Commissioner-cum-Secretary highlighted through a Power Point Presentation that under the 5T goals, the Department has successfully implemented strengthening nutrition through SOPAN and Purna Aahara, Web based Mamata MIS and mobile application with periodic revisions in guidelines, Creation of vibrant AWCs with LPG Connections, Mo-Upakari Bagicha & Electricity Implementation of Mo-Chhatua for streamlining of THR, Fixed day approach for mixing of ingredients of chhatua and distribution of THR Web portal for engagement of AWWs / AWHs for transparency, e-Manadeya portal for timely disbursement of honorarium and incentives to AWWs / AWHs, Improved educational avenues for CCI children and their admission in Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya and linkage with other schemes, Mo-Sishu Portal and system re-engineering to streamline grant-in-aid mechanism to childcare institutions and Child welfare schemes such as Ashirbad, Biju Shishu Surakshya Yojana, facilities at CCIs, etc. Introduction of OSWAS in OSCPS.
She also expressed that the Department has received laurels and praise from different quarters. Odisha ranks number 1 in the country in Composite IYCF Index in NFHS-5. Odisha had the highest increase in the number of pre-school beneficiaries; Odisha had one of the lowest proportions of non-functional Anganwadis – Accountability Initiative, 2019. IFPRI studied the progress of several countries and 28 Indian states, identifying Odisha as a “nutrition champion”.
Odisha was making steady progress in matters of food security, child nutrition and public health and has been considered ‘leader’ state – Jaccha-Baccha Survey, June 2019. Rate of decline in stunting faster in Odisha than other States-Indiaspend.org. Highest enrolment of children in Anganwadi in the country – ASER Report 2022, Recognition of the comprehensive strategy of Advika at the Bangkok Conference – UNICEF.
Ghare Ghare Arunima has received Platinum Skoch Award. Child Marriage Free Village Initiative through Nirvaya Kadhi has got Gold. Ashribad Scheme for specially cared children has received Gold. Mo Chhatua has also received Gold. Malati Devi Prak Vidyalaya Paridhan Ysojana and “Nua Arunima” in 10 Tribal Languages has qualified for Semi Final. Director Aravind Agarwal was also present in the Press Conference.
