Bhubaneswar, Aug. 31 (UDN): The Odisha government has stepped up its campaign against malnutrition by bringing 18 high-burden districts under an intensified nutrition drive, with 23,088 Anganwadi centres to be covered under the Odisha Poshan Mission (OPM). The initiative will combine digital tracking, early identification of malnutrition and infrastructure upgrades to improve the health of children, mothers and adolescents.
The roadmap was finalised during a high-level review meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg, who directed officials to accelerate implementation in a mission mode and strengthen service delivery through technology-driven monitoring.
She also instructed departments to complete pending Anganwadi buildings under the Samruddha Anganwadi Yojana, build new centres where needed and upgrade existing facilities to create safe and child-friendly learning spaces.
Targeted intervention in high-burden districts
Officials said the mission will support the implementation of the Mukhyamantri Sampoorna Pushti Yojana, with a special focus on districts facing a higher burden of malnutrition.
The programme covers 23,088 Anganwadi centres, including those under 100 priority ICDS projects, 22,707 underperforming centres identified through the Poshan Index and 159 Gramoday Anganwadi centres located in Maoist-affected areas. It will also extend support to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) across the state.
The 18 priority districts are Angul, Deogarh, Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Ganjam, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Keonjhar, Koraput, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Nuapada, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Sambalpur and Sundargarh. Odisha’s nine NITI Aayog aspirational districts will also remain part of the initiative.
Digital monitoring at the core
The mission will strengthen data-driven monitoring through the Nutrition Tracker, enabling officials to detect malnutrition early and ensure timely intervention.
Special attention will be given to the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, low birth weight infants and children at risk of undernutrition. The government’s Suposhit Odisha Mission will work alongside the programme to reduce severe underweight and stunting among children at the Anganwadi level.
Authorities also plan to improve programme oversight through geo-tagged Anganwadi visits, live monitoring dashboards, independent evaluations and food quality testing.
Rs 360.68 crore outlay
The government has proposed an outlay of Rs 360.68 crore for the Odisha Poshan Mission during 2026-27 and 2027-28. The funds will support nutritious food distribution, awareness campaigns, performance incentives, nutrition surveys, micronutrient interventions and quality testing of food supplies.
The review also assessed the progress of new Anganwadi construction and completion of pending projects under the Samruddha Anganwadi Yojana. Officials have been directed to fast-track unfinished centres, while fencing and other safety measures will be taken up in the next phase.
The government has further instructed departments to establish new Anganwadi centres near public habitations wherever necessary, ensuring easier access for children and families to essential nutrition and childcare services.