THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR,
APRIL 2, 2026
Reaffirming the
government’s commitment to strengthening early childhood care and grassroots
service delivery, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Women & Child
Development, Mission Shakti and Tourism Pravati Parida on Thursday virtually
inaugurated 1,889 newly constructed Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) across all 30
districts of Odisha, underscoring the vision of building modern, safe and
resilient childcare infrastructure. Emphasising the state’s developmental
priorities, the Deputy Chief Minister stated, “Sundar, Sakhyam, Sudrudha
Anganwadi is our aim,” highlighting the focus on creating Anganwadi centres
that are aesthetically designed, inclusive and structurally strong to ensure
holistic child development.
The virtual
inauguration programme was held at the Women & Child Development (WCD)
Conference Hall in the presence of Rural Development, Panchayati Raj &
Drinking Water Minister Rabi Narayan Naik. During the event, the Deputy Chief
Minister interacted with district administrations of Balasore, Ganjam, Cuttack,
Angul, Deogarh and several other districts, reviewing the progress of Anganwadi
infrastructure projects and stressing timely completion to maximise benefits
for children and mothers at the grassroots level.
Lauding the Women
& Child Development Department for its focused efforts under the leadership
of the Deputy Chief Minister, Minister Rabi Narayan Naik noted that children
enrolled in Anganwadi centres represent the foundation of Odisha’s future and
will play a crucial role in shaping a developed state by 2036.
Officials highlighted that the large-scale initiative has been made possible through strong convergence between the Women & Child Development Department and the Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Department, ensuring coordinated implementation and optimum utilisation of resources for community welfare.
Commissioner-cum-Secretary, WCD Dr. Mrinalini Darswal, along with senior officers from both departments, attended the inauguration programme. District Collectors, Chief Development Officers, District Social Welfare Officers (DSWOs), Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs) and other officials from all 30 districts joined the event through virtual mode, reflecting the state’s unified approach towards strengthening early childhood care infrastructure.
