Bhubaneswar: Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida on Saturday launched the three-day ‘Angan Ka Utsav’ campaign aimed at strengthening nutrition, health awareness and early childhood development services across the state.
The campaign will be observed from September 27 to 29 at all 74,224 Anganwadi Centres in Odisha as part of the ongoing Poshan Maah (September 9-October 8) and Seva Sankalp Abhiyan (September 17-October 17).
At the virtual inauguration held at the Conference Hall of the Department of Women and Child Development, Parida announced an increase in the clothing allowance for Anganwadi Workers and Helpers from Rs 1,390 to Rs 1,500.
Under the revised provision, the Centre will contribute Rs 600 and the Odisha government Rs 900. With a total budgetary allocation of Rs 22.30 crore, around 1.48 lakh Anganwadi Workers and Helpers across the state are expected to benefit.
Parida also launched DIPTI (Direct Invoice Payment & Tracking Interface), a digital platform for managing electricity bills at Anganwadi Centres.
The Department of Women and Child Development said it is the first department in Odisha to introduce such a digital system for streamlined electricity bill management. Developed jointly by the department and DISCOMs, DIPTI will facilitate digital verification, direct payment and tracking of electricity bills.
The system is expected to relieve Anganwadi Workers of the financial and administrative responsibility of paying electricity bills and help ensure uninterrupted electricity supply at the centres.
Parida said the initiative would reduce the administrative burden on Anganwadi Workers and save their valuable time, allowing them to focus more on nutrition, healthcare and early childhood development services.
Around 37.11 lakh beneficiaries and Anganwadi Management Committee members, along with 13.03 lakh children aged 3-6 years, are expected to participate in the three-day campaign.
The first day, September 27, will focus on nutrition and food competitions. Families will showcase Poshan Pitha, while fathers will participate in cooking competitions featuring locally available food ingredients.
On September 28, the campaign will feature child-centric recreational activities, games and storytelling sessions. Reading materials such as Ama Kunipila and Mo Bikash Patra will be showcased. Children will also be served lassi, locally available fruits and millet cookies.
The concluding day on September 29 will focus on government schemes and initiatives including POSHAN, SUBHADRA, MAMATA, PM-AWAS and ADVIKA. A healthy ‘Tiranga Thali’ meal will also be arranged for Anganwadi and ASHA workers.
Parida highlighted the role of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers in delivering nutrition and child development services at the grassroots level and called for greater participation of families and communities in the campaign.
Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Women and Child Development Department Dr Mrinalini Darswal, Director Monisha Banerjee, TPCODL CEO Gajanan S. Kale and senior officials of the department and TPCODL attended the inaugural programme.
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