Bhubaneswar: In a major step towards improving child nutrition and early childhood development, the Odisha government has increased financial support for supplementary nutrition provided to severely underweight children and pre-schoolers under its Anganwadi services.
Under the revised provisions, the daily nutrition support for severely underweight children aged 6 months to 6 years has been increased from ₹8 to ₹12 per child. Combined with existing allocations, the total daily nutrition value for each beneficiary will now reach ₹18, ensuring better access to nutritious food and helping address malnutrition among vulnerable children.
The government has also enhanced the breakfast allocation for pre-school children aged 3 to 6 years attending Anganwadi centres. The daily amount has been raised from ₹1.24 to ₹3.56 per child, enabling centres to provide more nutritious and balanced morning meals.
As part of its broader focus on maternal and child health, the state has launched a digital book in the Odia language highlighting the significance of the first 1,000 days of life—from conception until a child reaches two years of age. This period is widely recognized as critical for physical growth, brain development, immunity, and long-term health outcomes.
The digital resource is designed to educate parents, caregivers, and community workers about proper nutrition, breastfeeding, complementary feeding practices, healthcare, and early childhood care during this crucial developmental window.
The initiative reflects Odisha’s continued efforts to combat malnutrition, strengthen early childhood care, and improve health outcomes for children through targeted nutrition interventions, awareness campaigns, and community-based support systems.
Key Highlights
- Nutrition support for severely underweight children increased from ₹8 to ₹12 per day.
- Total daily nutrition value now stands at ₹18 per child.
- Breakfast allocation for Anganwadi pre-school children increased from ₹1.24 to ₹3.56 per day.
- Digital Odia book launched to promote awareness about the first 1,000 days of life.
- Initiative aims to improve nutrition, growth, cognitive development, and overall child well-being across Odisha.
-OdishaAge
