Odisha Launches ‘Amari Shishu’ Portal to Strengthen Child Welfare and Protection Services

Bhubaneswar: To enhance child welfare services in Odisha, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida on Tuesday launched the Amari Shishu web portal (www.aamarisishu.odisha.gov.in) at the State Women and Children’s Institute in Bhubaneswar. The digital platform is designed to streamline coordination among multiple agencies involved in child care, protection, and rehabilitation across the state.

The Amari Shishu portal will serve as an integrated system connecting the Child Protection Units, Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs), and Child Care Institutions (CCIs). The objective is to facilitate better monitoring, quicker response, and more efficient service delivery to children in need of care and protection.

Deputy Chief Minister Parida emphasized the portal’s role in improving inter-departmental coordination and digital record-keeping, which she said would mark a shift toward data-driven policymaking in the child welfare sector. “With Amari Shishu, Odisha is stepping into a new era of child-centric governance. The platform will ensure that no child in distress is left behind, and services reach the right hands at the right time,” she said.

The portal will also be linked with existing digital infrastructure such as the Nutrition Tracker and the Child Helpline (1098), allowing for real-time updates on child health and nutrition. This will help in identifying gaps, ensuring timely interventions, and enhancing accountability across agencies.

In addition to real-time tracking, Amari Shishu will provide updated information on key government schemes such as Mission Vatsalya, Yashoda, and Ashirbad. The portal will serve as a knowledge hub for both citizens and service providers, keeping the public informed about the scope, eligibility, and benefits of child welfare programs.

Officials said the digital transition is expected to significantly improve decision-making and resource allocation in the sectors of child nutrition, safety, and rehabilitation. By maintaining a live database of vulnerable children, the government hopes to enable proactive responses and better planning for their long-term development and protection.

The launch event was attended by senior officials from the Department of Women and Child Development and Mission Shakti, representatives of UNICEF, and members of various child welfare organizations.