THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, AUGUST 5, 2026

The Odisha government has signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tata Steel Foundation and Kaivalya Education Foundation, an entity of Piramal Foundation, to strengthen public health systems across the state through strategic and techno-managerial support over the next three years.

The collaboration, spearheaded by the Department of Health and Family Welfare, will focus on improving outcomes in Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N), besides intensifying efforts to combat tuberculosis and malaria through evidence-based planning, improved governance and capacity building.

The MoU was signed at Kharavel Bhavan here in the presence of Odisha Health Minister Dr Mukesh Mahaling, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Department of Health and Family Welfare Awasthy S, National Health Mission (NHM) Mission Director Dr Brundha D, senior government officials and bureaucrats.

The agreement was signed by Director of Public Health Dr Rabindranath Misra on behalf of the Odisha government, Head of Public Health at Tata Steel Foundation Dr Anuj Bhatnagar and Core Team Member of Kaivalya Education Foundation Dr Sunil Babu.

Officials said the partnership aims to strengthen institutional capacity across Odisha's health system by supporting data-driven decision-making in critical areas such as service delivery, health governance, human resources for health, supply chain management and health financing.

The initiative will work in close coordination with the Department of Health and Family Welfare and district health administrations to improve planning, monitoring and implementation of key public health programmes.

The project will adopt a systems-strengthening approach that combines evidence-based planning, targeted implementation and community participation to enhance governance mechanisms and accelerate improvements in RMNCAH+N indicators as well as tuberculosis and malaria outcomes. It will also leverage digital technologies and innovative models to improve efficiency and service delivery.

As part of the partnership, Tata Steel Foundation will provide strategic and technical support across 16 districts of Odisha, while Kaivalya Education Foundation will extend similar support in the remaining 14 districts, ensuring statewide coverage. The implementation will be aligned with the Department of Health and Family Welfare's priorities and phased rollout plans.

Speaking on the occasion, NHM Mission Director Dr Brundha D. said the National Health Mission has consistently focused on accelerating improvements in maternal and child health indicators across Odisha.

"We are pleased to partner with Tata Steel Foundation and Kaivalya Education Foundation, whose expertise in systems strengthening and implementation support will complement our efforts. This collaboration will help accelerate RMNCAH+N outcomes through improved planning, monitoring, governance and capacity building at both state and district levels," she said.

Tata Steel Foundation Chief Executive Officer Sourav Roy said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to addressing critical public health challenges and improving health outcomes across Odisha.

"The project builds on our long-standing collaboration by anchoring collective efforts to strengthen public health systems that are more responsive, resilient and community-centric. Through this partnership, we look forward to contributing to efforts that improve access to quality healthcare, particularly for vulnerable communities, while supporting Odisha's broader vision for a healthier future," Roy said.

Officials said the initiative is expected to strengthen the state's public health delivery architecture by enhancing institutional capacities, promoting better governance and improving healthcare access and outcomes for communities across Odisha.