Bhubaneswar: Reinforcing the State Government’s commitment to women and child welfare, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida on Tuesday launched the SUPOSHIT Odisha Mission (SOM) and inaugurated the Panchatatwa Park at the State Institute for Women & Children (SIWC) in Bhubaneswar. The initiatives form a key part of Odisha’s long-term development roadmap under the vision of “Viksit Odisha @ 2036.” The Deputy CM also laid the foundation stone for the Subhadra Resource Centre, aimed at strengthening institutional support for women and children.
Speaking on the occasion, Parida said that addressing malnutrition requires interventions that begin at the household level. She stressed the need to educate and empower mothers with practical knowledge on child nutrition and health. Highlighting the importance of local, nutrient-rich foods, she urged families to move away from processed food and instead make better use of locally available resources.
Calling for greater community participation, the Deputy Chief Minister made a social appeal to citizens to celebrate occasions such as birthdays by distributing fruits among children at Anganwadi Centres, describing it as a meaningful step towards building a caring and nutrition-conscious society.
The Panchatatwa Park, conceptualised around the five elements of nature—Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space—was inaugurated as a wellness and learning space. Key features include an acupressure path designed in the shape of the number eight, using pebbles, stones and sand to aid blood circulation and mental well-being, along with an open-air gym to encourage healthy lifestyles among women and children.
As part of the programme, the foundation stone was laid for the Subhadra Resource Centre and a 400-seater modern auditorium at the SIWC campus, to be developed at a cost of ₹35.70 crore. The integrated facility will house a Toy Museum and Cafeteria and is envisioned as a centre for capacity building, research and policy initiatives focused on women and child development.
Parida also inaugurated a two-day State-level Orientation-cum-Capacity Building Workshop under the SUPOSHIT Odisha Mission. She said the initiative aims to transform Anganwadi Centres into malnutrition-free zones. Centres reporting zero underweight or malnourished children will be declared ‘SUPOSHIT’, with Anganwadi workers receiving public recognition. A dedicated digital dashboard will monitor real-time progress across the state.
Announcing a major welfare decision, the Deputy Chief Minister revealed a revision in cost norms for uniforms and winter wear for preschool children aged 3–6 years under the Malati Devi Prak Vidyalaya Paridhan Yojana, effective from the 2026–27 financial year. The revised rates include an increase in boys’ uniforms to ₹175, girls’ uniforms to ₹225, shoes and socks to ₹150, and sweaters to ₹200. The revision will benefit over 14.76 lakh children across 74,224 Anganwadi Centres, with the additional expenditure fully funded by the State Government.
The event was attended by Shubha Sharma, Principal Secretary, Women and Child Development Department; Monisha Banerjee, Director, WCD; Anant Narayan Singh Laguri, Additional Secretary; Swayamprabha Mohanty, Additional Secretary; senior officials and Anganwadi workers from various districts.
