Odisha Launches ‘AWESOME’ App, Campaign to Boost Anganwadi Oversight

Bhubaneswar: “The strength of our child development efforts lies in the capability of CDPOs at the grassroots level,” stated Deputy Chief Minister Prabhati Parida while inaugurating a state-level capacity building workshop for Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs) at Lok Seva Bhawan today. Addressing more than 400 officers from across Odisha, she emphasized that achieving a malnutrition-free state by 2036 hinges on empowering frontline leaders.

Lauding the vital role played by CDPOs in the success of flagship initiatives like SUBHDRA, the Deputy CM called for stronger women-led development efforts at the local level. On the occasion, she launched the “Anganwadi Welfare and Service Oversight Monitoring Everywhere” (AWESOME) app—a digital platform designed to enhance monitoring of infrastructure and service delivery at Anganwadi Centres.

Parida also flagged off the “Aasa Jiba Anganwadi” campaign, scheduled from August 1 to 15, encouraging citizens to visit their local Anganwadi Centres and provide feedback on cleanliness, infrastructure, and functioning. Aligned with World Breastfeeding Week (August 1–7), the campaign aims to foster community participation and accountability in early childhood development services.

Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja highlighted the centrality of health, nutrition, and early learning in the Vision Odisha 2036 framework, urging CDPOs to adopt people-centric approaches. Shubha Sharma, Principal Secretary of the Women and Child Development (W&CD) Department, underscored the importance of continuous institutional training for field officers.

A key highlight of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the W&CD Department and the National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD) for sustained training and capacity building of ICDS officers in the state. Representing NIPCCD, Additional Director Sanghamitra Barik noted that the collaboration would strengthen technical capabilities and field-level leadership.

The workshop featured comprehensive sessions covering administrative, financial, and legal responsibilities of CDPOs. Elora Mohanty, Financial Advisor and Special Secretary, presented a detailed session on the functions of CDPOs as Drawing and Disbursing Officers. Itishree Das elaborated on service matters including pension rules, leave entitlements, performance appraisal systems, and travel allowances. The final session by Additional Secretary Jyotishankar Mahapatra focused on workplace safety, offering in-depth guidance on the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act.