Odisha is set to receive a significant boost to its early childhood care and nutrition infrastructure, with the Centre approving infrastructure improvements for more than 21,000 Anganwadi centres across the state.
The approved works include construction of new Anganwadi buildings, drinking water facilities, toilets and modern amenities aimed at improving the environment for children and strengthening nutrition and early childhood development services.
1,639 New Anganwadi Centres Under MGNREGS
Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur informed Parliament that 1,639 Anganwadi centres in Odisha will be constructed under the MGNREGS convergence programme.
An allocation of Rs 9.66 crore has been sanctioned for the construction of these centres, providing dedicated infrastructure for children and beneficiaries in different parts of the state.
89 Centres Sanctioned Under PM JANMAN
The Centre has also sanctioned 89 Anganwadi centres under PM JANMAN, a programme focused on supporting particularly vulnerable tribal communities.
According to the information provided in Parliament, Rs 10.68 crore has been allocated for these centres, further expanding Anganwadi infrastructure in tribal areas of Odisha.
Drinking Water and Toilet Facilities
The infrastructure push also focuses on improving basic amenities at existing Anganwadi centres.
As many as 6,965 centres have been approved for drinking water facilities, with more than Rs 17.82 crore allocated for the work.
Meanwhile, 16,575 Anganwadi centres have been approved for construction of toilets, with Rs 24.59 crore sanctioned.
The expansion of these facilities is expected to improve hygiene, sanitation and the overall experience of children and beneficiaries visiting the centres.
12,140 Centres to Become Saksham Anganwadis
Odisha has also been allocated 12,140 Saksham Anganwadi centres under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0. The Centre has sanctioned Rs 72.84 crore for the initiative.
The upgraded centres will receive modern facilities such as LED screens, water filtration systems, Poshan Vatika, early childhood care and education learning materials and BALA paintings.
These improvements are aimed at making Anganwadi centres more engaging and better equipped to provide early childhood education, nutrition and development services.
Focus on Nutrition and Early Childhood Development
Savitri Thakur said the Centre is approving 10,000 Anganwadi centres every year for construction under the national programme, while 40,000 centres have been approved under MGNREGS.
She also said around two lakh Anganwadi centres operating from government buildings are being strengthened as Saksham Anganwadis.
The initiative is intended to improve the delivery of nutrition services while strengthening early childhood care and education across the country.
For Odisha, the latest approvals are expected to provide better infrastructure at thousands of centres and improve access to essential facilities for children, mothers and other beneficiaries, particularly in rural and tribal areas.
