In a significant move to address child malnutrition in Odisha, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida on Tuesday launched the ambitious SUPOSHIT Odisha Mission in Bhubaneswar. The initiative, spearheaded by the state's women and child development department, aims to transform all 74,224 anganwadi centers across Odisha into certified malnutrition-free zones.
A Novel Approach to Nutrition Celebration
During the launch ceremony, Deputy CM Parida proposed an innovative community practice to enhance nutritional support for young children. She urged citizens to celebrate personal milestones like birthdays by distributing fruits at their local anganwadi centers rather than traditional sweets or processed snacks.
"This simple gesture can make a substantial difference in our fight against malnutrition," Parida emphasized, highlighting how such community participation could supplement existing nutritional programs while fostering greater public awareness about childhood nutrition.
Grassroots Empowerment and Local Solutions
The Deputy CM stressed that the battle against malnutrition must begin at the household level. She directed concerned officials to intensify educational outreach programs targeting mothers at the grassroots level, equipping them with essential knowledge about child nutrition and health monitoring.
Parida also advocated for the localization of nutritious food resources, urging stakeholders across the nutrition ecosystem to prioritize locally available, nutrient-rich foods over processed alternatives. "Our traditional food systems contain immense nutritional wisdom that we must preserve and promote," she remarked during her address.
Enhanced Support for Anganwadi Children
In a parallel development announced during the same event, the women and child development department revealed substantial increases in financial allocations for uniforms and winter wear provided to pre-school children attending anganwadi centers.
Under the revised Malati Devi Prak Vidyalaya Paridhan Yojana, which will be implemented from the 2026-27 academic year:
- Boys' uniform costs will increase from ₹100 to ₹175
- Girls' uniform costs will rise from ₹150 to ₹225
- Shoes and socks allocation will increase from ₹100 to ₹150
- Sweater costs will be enhanced from ₹150 to ₹200
State-Funded Quality Improvements
This comprehensive revision will benefit over 14.76 lakh children across all 74,224 anganwadi centers in Odisha. Government sources confirmed that the additional costs will be entirely funded by the state government, with the primary objective being to improve the quality of uniforms and footwear supplied to anganwadi attendees.
The SUPOSHIT Odisha Mission represents a multi-pronged approach to tackling malnutrition, combining community engagement through fruit distribution initiatives, grassroots education for mothers, promotion of local nutritious foods, and enhanced material support through improved uniform provisions. This integrated strategy aims to create sustainable improvements in child health outcomes across the state.
