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In a significant initiative aimed at promoting adolescent participation in governance and policymaking, Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida interacted with young people from across the state through ‘Advika Barta’, a first-of-its-kind statewide dialogue platform.

The programme was jointly organized by the Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (OSCPCR) and UNICEF under the ‘A Day for Children’ initiative.

Youth from All 30 Districts Participate

Held during the Raja Parba celebrations, the event brought together adolescent girls and boys associated with Advika groups from different parts of Odisha. While several participants attended the programme in person at the Convention Centre in Bhubaneswar, representatives from all 30 districts joined virtually in the presence of district officials and administrators.

The interactive session provided a platform for young people to directly share their views, concerns, and aspirations with policymakers.

Discussions on Education, Safety and Leadership

During the two-hour interaction, participants raised questions and shared experiences on a range of issues, including education, safety, gender equality, child rights, health, skill development, leadership opportunities, and future career aspirations.

The adolescents also offered suggestions on improving government programmes and services designed for young people, emphasizing the need for greater opportunities and support systems.

Government Reaffirms Commitment to Youth Empowerment

Addressing the participants, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida reiterated the Odisha government’s commitment to ensuring that adolescents have a meaningful role in decisions affecting their lives.

She encouraged young people to actively engage in community development and leadership activities and assured them that their recommendations would be considered in future policy discussions.

Officials and Stakeholders Attend Event

The programme was attended by Babita Patra, Chairperson of OSCPCR; Prasanta Dash, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Odisha; Sovana Mohanty, Chairperson of the Odisha State Commission for Women; and other senior officials.

The event was also streamed digitally, enabling wider public participation and highlighting the leadership potential, concerns, and aspirations of Odisha’s adolescents.

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Odisha Deputy Chief Minister and Women & Child Development Minister Pravati Parida on Monday launched a digital book aimed at creating awareness about the importance of the first 1,000 days of a child’s life. The book was unveiled at a programme held at the conference hall of the Women and Child Development Department in Bhubaneswar.

The digital publication has been designed in Odia to help parents and caregivers understand the critical stages of a child’s development from conception to the age of two years.

Increased Nutritional Support for Severely Underweight Children

On the occasion, the Deputy Chief Minister announced enhanced nutritional support for severely underweight children aged between six months and six years.

The daily cost of supplementary nutrition provided under government programmes has been increased from ₹8 to ₹12 per child. In addition, children will continue to receive ₹6 per day under the Mukhyamantri Sampoorna Pushti Yojana, taking the total nutritional support to ₹18 per child per day.

Around 35,000 severely underweight children across Odisha are expected to benefit from the initiative. The State Government will bear an additional annual expenditure of approximately ₹10.7 crore for the programme.

Higher Breakfast Allocation for Anganwadi Children

The government has also enhanced the breakfast allocation for pre-school children aged 3 to 6 years attending Anganwadi centres.

The daily breakfast allocation has been increased from ₹1.24 to ₹3.56 per child. The move will require an additional annual expenditure of approximately ₹126.83 crore from the state exchequer.

Together, both initiatives will result in an additional annual financial commitment of nearly ₹137.57 crore by the State Government.

Focus on the Critical First 1,000 Days

Addressing the gathering, Pravati Parida highlighted that the first 1,000 days of life—from conception until a child’s second birthday—are crucial for physical, cognitive, and emotional development.

She said the newly launched digital book provides simple and practical guidance on maternal and child care during this important period. The resource aims to empower families with knowledge that can contribute to healthier outcomes for both mothers and children.

Anganwadi Workers to Lead Awareness Campaign

The Minister informed that Anganwadi workers will use the digital book during home visits to educate beneficiaries about proper nutrition, healthcare, and child development practices.

The department also plans to disseminate the digital book widely through social media platforms and Anganwadi networks to ensure it reaches families across the state.

Call for Community Participation

Pravati Parida urged parents and family members to read and implement the recommendations provided in the digital book. She expressed confidence that widespread adoption of these practices would help achieve the vision of a “Healthy Mother, Healthy Child, Healthy Family” across Odisha.

Officials Attend Programme

The programme was attended by Women and Child Development Department Commissioner-cum-Secretary Dr. Mrinalini Darswal, Director Monisha Banerjee, and other senior departmental officials.

District Social Welfare Officers, Child Development Project Officers, DC-Nutrition officials, and Supervisors from all districts participated virtually in the event.

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Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who also holds the Finance portfolio, presented the state budget for the 2026-27 financial year in the Odisha Legislative Assembly today.

The fiscal roadmap signals a strategic shift towards expansive social safety nets, rural empowerment, and sustained educational reform, with a strong emphasis on what the government terms “balanced growth.”

Education and Rural Development Take Centre Stage

The government has placed rural infrastructure at the forefront, allocating ₹34,166 crore to the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water department. The move underscores a renewed push to strengthen grassroots governance, expand rural roads, and accelerate safe drinking water coverage under flagship programmes.

Close behind is the School and Mass Education department, which has been granted ₹31,997 crore. The substantial allocation reflects the administration’s commitment to modernising primary and secondary education and consolidating recent reforms across the state.

The Education Surge

Education remains one of the largest components of the programmatic budget. The increase from ₹31,185 crore to ₹31,997 crore suggests a focus on sustaining infrastructure upgrades and improving administrative efficiency.

The allocation is expected to strengthen classroom facilities, teacher training, digital learning initiatives, and school transformation programmes introduced in recent years.

Rural and Social Infrastructure Push

The ₹34,166 crore earmarked for Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water signals an aggressive push towards last-mile connectivity and household-level water access. Projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission are expected to receive continued momentum.

This allocation reinforces the government’s strategy of building resilient rural infrastructure while addressing fundamental civic amenities.

Empowerment and Social Protection

A notable rise has been recorded in the Women & Child Development sector, with allocations increasing to ₹16,153 crore. The enhanced funding is likely to support expanded nutrition programmes, maternal care initiatives, and improved honorariums for grassroots workers.

The Social Security outlay stands at ₹9,610 crore, reflecting the growing financial commitment towards pension schemes for senior citizens, widows, and persons with disabilities.

Cultural Identity and Digital Ambition

The 2026-27 budget also reflects a dual commitment to preserving cultural identity and advancing technological growth.

Odia Language Promotion

An allocation of ₹615 crore has been earmarked for the promotion and preservation of the Odia language. The funding is expected to support initiatives such as the proposed Odia University and linguistic research programmes.

Digital Odisha

The IT and Electronics sector has received ₹1,108 crore, aligning with Odisha’s ambition to emerge as a secondary hub in India’s semiconductor and software ecosystem. The investment is aimed at strengthening digital infrastructure, promoting startups, and attracting technology-driven industries.

A Performance-Oriented Fiscal Strategy

The overall structure of the 2026-27 budget indicates what officials describe as a “Performance Budget.” Rather than unveiling numerous new schemes, the government has channelled resources into strengthening existing high-performing departments.

The Finance Department’s allocation of ₹65,292 crore includes provisions for debt servicing and transfers to local bodies, ensuring fiscal stability and smooth administrative functioning.

By combining strong rural investment, educational consolidation, social welfare expansion, and a calibrated push toward technology and cultural preservation, the Majhi government has presented a budget that seeks steady, structured, and inclusive growth for Odisha in the coming fiscal year.

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Deputy CM Highlights Lack of Own Buildings for Many Anganwadis

On the third day of the winter session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly, Deputy Chief Minister and Women & Child Development Minister Pravati Parida responded to concerns raised by BJD MLA Ashwini Patra regarding Anganwadi centers in the state.

She revealed that out of 74,224 Anganwadi centers in Odisha, 20,150 centers do not have their own buildings and are operating in rented premises, community centers, or school buildings.

Current Status of Anganwadi Infrastructure

• 54,074 Anganwadis have their own buildings.

• 10,469 centers are operating in community centers.

• 3,890 centers are in rented buildings.

• 4,574 centers are functioning in school buildings.

• 10,416 mini Anganwadis have been upgraded to full Anganwadi centers.

Currently, 7,389 Anganwadi buildings are under construction across the state.

Modern Facilities and Government Guidelines

Deputy CM Parida stated that all capable Anganwadi centers are being equipped with LED lights, fans, and electrical machines, and all construction and renovation activities are being carried out according to central government guidelines.

Promise of Own Buildings for All Centers

The Deputy CM assured the assembly that every Anganwadi center in Odisha will eventually have its own dedicated building.
In areas where land is not readily available, the Panchayati Raj Department will assist in acquiring land for construction.

She added that the additional budget has allocated funds to construct 10,900 Anganwadi buildings, ensuring better infrastructure and facilities for children and staff.

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