Bhubaneswar: Two key schemes under Women and Child Development Department on Wednesday received a five-year extension from the Odisha Cabinet, covering the period from 2026-27 to 2030-31.
The decisions involve continuing the Jashoda initiative along with its Ashirbad sub-scheme, as well as the Malati Devi Prak Vidyalaya Paridhan Yojana, aimed at supporting vulnerable children and boosting early childhood education across the state.
A total outlay of ₹296.99 crore has been approved for the Jashoda scheme and its Ashirbad component. The programme focuses on children without biological parents, those whose parents are incapacitated, children affected or infected by HIV, and those who lost their primary family breadwinners during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under Jashoda, beneficiaries can access support for technical education and coaching for competitive examinations, along with scholarships and assistance linked to schemes such as Sukanya Samriddhi and marriage support. The scheme also provides for periodic surveys of orphaned children and the issuance of orphan certificates to aid rehabilitation and care.
The Ashirbad sub-scheme will continue to offer monthly direct benefit transfers and convergent welfare support specifically for children orphaned or left without primary earners due to the pandemic.
Official records indicate that Ashirbad, launched in 2021, has supported tens of thousands of such children with monthly assistance ranging from ₹1,500 to ₹2,500 depending on the category, with recent steps taken to clear pending payments and ensure continuity.
Separately, the Cabinet cleared an allocation of ₹5,86,50,75,480 for extending the Malati Devi Prak Vidyalaya Paridhan Yojana over the same five-year span. This scheme is expected to benefit around 14.76 lakh pre-school children aged 3 to 6 years each year at Anganwadi centres throughout Odisha. Revised unit costs have been introduced to enhance quality: two pairs of uniforms per child at ₹175 per pair for boys and ₹225 per pair for girls, plus one pair of shoes and two pairs of socks (including an extra pair) valued at ₹180, and a sweater priced at ₹200.
These upgrades build on earlier revisions announced in early 2026, which raised allowances from previous levels of ₹100-₹150 for uniforms and related items to improve comfort and dignity for young learners.
Beyond encouraging higher enrolment, better attendance and stronger early childhood care and education outcomes at Anganwadi centres, the initiative generates livelihood opportunities by involving local self-help groups, their federations and Subhadra beneficiaries in the stitching and supply of the uniforms.