Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Saturday launched a three-day ‘Angan Ka Utsav’ campaign with an aim to strengthen nutrition, health awareness and early childhood development services for children, women and adolescent girls in the state.
The campaign was launched virtually by Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida from the Conference Hall of the Department of Women and Child Development.
On the occasion, the Deputy CM announced an increase in the clothing allowance for Anganwadi workers and helpers from Rs 1,390 to Rs 1,500. Under the revised provision, the government of India will contribute Rs 600, while the government of Odisha will provide Rs 900. With a total budgetary provision of Rs 22.30 crore, approximately 1.48 lakh Anganwadi workers and helpers across the state will benefit directly.
Parida also launched DIPTI (Direct Invoice Payment & Tracking Interface), making the Department of Women and Child Development the first department in Odisha to introduce such a digital initiative for streamlined electricity bill management at Anganwadi Centres.
Developed jointly by the Department of Women and Child Development and DISCOMs, the platform enables the digital and direct verification, payment and tracking of electricity bills. The initiative will relieve Anganwadi Workers of the financial and administrative responsibility of paying electricity bills and help ensure uninterrupted power supply at Anganwadi Centres.
Speaking on the occasion, Parida said the initiative would reduce the administrative burden on Anganwadi Workers and save their valuable time, enabling them to focus more effectively on providing nutrition, health and early childhood development services to children and mothers.
It may be noted that the Angan ka Ustav, campaign will be observed across all Anganwadi Centres in the State from September 27 to 29, as part of the ongoing Poshan Maah (September 9 to October 8) and Seva Sankalp Abhiyan (September 17 to October 17).
The three-day campaign will be organised across all 74,224 Anganwadi Centres in the State. Around 37,11,200 beneficiaries and Anganwadi Management Committee (AMC) members, along with 13,03,415 children in the age group of 3–6 years, are expected to participate in the programme.
On September 27, the first day will focus on Nutrition and Food Competitions. ‘Poshan Pitha’ prepared by family members will be showcased, while cooking competitions for fathers using locally available food ingredients will also be organised.
The second day will feature child-centric recreational activities, games and storytelling sessions. Reading materials including ‘Ama Kunipila’ and ‘Mo Bikash Patra’ will be showcased. Children will also be served lassi, locally available fruits and millet cookies.
The concluding day will feature discussions on key government initiatives and schemes including POSHAN, SUBHADRA, MAMATA, PM-AWAS and ADVIKA. A healthy ‘Tiranga Thali’ meal will also be arranged for Anganwadi and ASHA workers.
The Deputy CM highlighted the crucial role played by Anganwadi Workers and Helpers in delivering nutrition and child development services at the grassroots level.
She called for making ‘Angan Ka Utsav’ a meaningful platform for strengthening community participation in programmes aimed at the welfare of children and mothers. She emphasised that active involvement of families and communities is essential for ensuring better nutrition, health and holistic development of children.
Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Women and Child Development Department Mrinalini Darswal, Director Monisha Banerjee, TPCODL CEO Gajanan S. Kale and senior officials of the department and TPCODL attended the inaugural programme
