THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, AUGUST 29, 2026

Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg on Saturday called for strengthening data analysis, inter-departmental coordination and continuous monitoring to make social sector services more effective and people-oriented.

Garg made the observations while reviewing key social sector indicators at a ‘PRAYAS’ meeting held at Lok Seva Bhawan here.

The meeting reviewed various indicators pertaining to the School and Mass Education, Health and Family Welfare, and Women and Child Development departments, with emphasis on using data analysis to identify deficiencies and resolve problems at the district level.

Secretaries of the Women and Child Development, School and Mass Education, Health and Family Welfare, and ST, SC Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare departments, along with departmental directors and senior officers, attended the meeting. Regional Revenue Commissioners (RDCs), district Collectors and District Magistrates participated virtually.

During the review of the Women and Child Development sector, the Chief Secretary stressed the need to make child and maternal nutrition programmes more effective and ensure nutritional security at the household level.

The meeting discussed coordinated measures to promote access to fresh vegetables through nutrition gardens and home vegetable cultivation, besides distribution of seedlings and greater involvement of self-help groups (SHGs).

Regular monitoring of the nutritional status of children at Anganwadis, timely growth measurements, home visits and capacity building of Anganwadi workers were also emphasised.

In the education sector, the review focused on improving Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) skills among primary-level students. Officials were asked to ensure regular monitoring of learning levels, effective use of teaching-learning materials and systematic assessment of learning outcomes.

The Health and Family Welfare Department's review focused on reducing maternal and neonatal mortality, strengthening newborn care and preventing infections.

The department informed the meeting that the neonatal mortality rate had declined during January-July 2026.

Highlighting success stories in newborn care, officials said a baby weighing just 500 grams at birth at the Nabarangpur District Headquarters Hospital SNCU recovered after 78 days of treatment and was discharged weighing 1.6 kg.

Similarly, a premature baby weighing 900 grams at the Mayurbhanj DHH also recovered following treatment, the officials said.

The meeting also stressed infection prevention and control measures, including hand hygiene, hospital sanitation, biomedical waste management and regular retraining of healthcare workers.

As part of the 100-day campaign under the ‘TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan’, a massive X-ray screening drive will be launched across the state from September 1.

District Collectors have been tasked with ensuring maximum utilisation of available X-ray machines, organising screening camps in remote and inaccessible areas and undertaking daily monitoring of the campaign.

Best practices from districts were also discussed. Angul's initiatives resulting in a reduction in maternal deaths and Rayagada's campaign to combat anaemia among school students through screening and distribution of iron and folic acid (IFA) tablets were highlighted as examples for wider adoption.

The Chief Secretary stressed that deficiencies identified through data-based reviews must be addressed within a fixed timeline, with clear accountability and regular follow-up.

The PRAYAS review, officials said, is aimed at ensuring that social sector interventions translate into better outcomes on the ground through data-driven monitoring, closer coordination among departments and time-bound resolution of gaps.