Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday called for greater involvement of fathers and other family members in child nutrition and development, stressing that ensuring a healthy childhood should be a shared family responsibility.
Speaking at the state-level celebration of ‘Angan Ka Utsav’ and the ninth Rashtriya Poshan Maah at an Anganwadi Centre in Baramunda, Majhi said the government was strengthening nutrition programmes through Anganwadi centres and schools to improve the health and nutritional status of women and children.
He said participation of the entire family, along with mothers, would help strengthen these efforts. The Chief Minister particularly emphasised the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, calling for active involvement of fathers and other family members in ensuring proper nutrition, care and development during this critical period.
“Through greater awareness and effective implementation of these programmes, Odisha will certainly emerge as a well-nourished state,” Majhi said, reiterating the government’s commitment to building a ‘Suposhit Odisha’.
More than 46 lakh activities were conducted across the state during Poshan Maah, Majhi said, adding that Odisha had secured the first position in the country in Aadhaar verification.
The Chief Minister credited Anganwadi workers, Anganwadi helpers, auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs) and ASHA workers with playing a key role in improving Odisha’s health indicators.
He said their grassroots-level services had contributed to improved child immunisation, a rise in institutional deliveries and a significant reduction in infant and maternal mortality.
Majhi said Odisha was earlier among the states with the second-highest infant and maternal mortality rates in the country, but had now reached a satisfactory position on both indicators.
He called for continued public cooperation in building a healthy and ‘Viksit Odisha’, while stressing that nutrition and healthcare must remain central to the state’s development.
Majhi also highlighted the government’s women-focused initiatives, including Subhadra Yojana, Lakhpati Didi, Mukhyamantri Kanya Bibaha Yojana and Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumangla Yojana.
He said at least 40 per cent of the state government’s total budget was being spent on women, adding that development was not possible without the welfare and empowerment of half of society’s population.
The Chief Minister further said quality education and healthcare had been made completely free in the state. Education up to the postgraduate level, he said, was fee-free in government and government-aided educational institutions.
He also said girl children covered under the relevant government initiative would receive financial assistance of ₹1 lakh upon completion of graduation.
In healthcare, Majhi said cashless treatment facilities were being provided at select private hospitals across the country under the Ayushman Bharat-Gopabandhu Jana Arogya Yojana.
During the programme, Majhi visited the Anganwadi Centre and reviewed the quality of the ‘Tiranga Thali’ and hot cooked meals being served to children. He also served food to the children.
He distributed school kits to Anganwadi children and felicitated fathers who participated in showcasing healthy food. Anganwadi workers, helpers and ASHA workers were also felicitated on the occasion.
Deputy Chief Minister and Women and Child Development Minister Pravati Parida, Ekamra-Bhubaneswar MLA Babu Singh, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Women and Child Development Department Dr Mrinalini Darswal and Department Director Monisha Banerjee were among those present, along with Anganwadi workers, helpers, ASHA workers, children and their parents.
