Bhubaneswar: To advance the vision of “Viksit Odisha @ 2036,” Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida inaugurated the ‘Panchatatwa Park’ and launched the ‘SUPOSHIT Odisha Mission’ (SOM) at State Institute for Women & Children (SIWC) Bhubaneswar. On this occasion, she also laid the foundation stone for the ‘Subhadra Resource Centre,’ reaffirming the government’s commitment to the welfare of women and children.
Smt. Parida emphasized that the fight against malnutrition begins at home. She issued a clarion call to educate mothers at the grassroots level, empowering them with the knowledge to ensure their children’s health. A key highlight of her speech was the “localization of nutritious food,” where she urged the community to rely on locally available, nutrient-rich resources rather than processed alternatives. In a unique social appeal, she encouraged citizens to celebrate personal milestones like birthdays by distributing fruits to local Anganwadi children.
Panchatatwa Park: The ‘Panchatatwa Park,’ based on the five essential elements of nature (Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Space) was inaugurated by the Deputy CM.
Acupressure Path: “There is a circular path in the shape of the number ‘8’, where pebbles, stones, and sand have been used. This helps in increasing blood circulation and providing mental peace.”
Open-Air Gym: “This will serve as a center to connect women and children with nature.”
‘Subhadra Resource Centre’ for Women Empowerment
A foundation stone was laid by the Deputy Chief Minister for the construction of the ‘Subhadra Resource Centre’ and a 400-seater modern auditorium at the SIWC campus, with an estimated investment of ₹35.70 crore.
This integrated facility, which includes a Toy Museum and Cafeteria, will serve as a dynamic hub for capacity building, research, and policy initiatives for women and children.
State-level Orientation-cum-Capacity Building Workshop
Inaugurating the two-day long ‘State-level Orientation-cum-Capacity Building Workshop’ under the Suposhita Odisha Mission, the Deputy CM Mrs. Parida said the goal is to strengthen Anganwadi workers at the grassroots level through the workshop.
The SOM initiative focuses on transforming Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) into malnutrition-free zones. Centres with no underweight or malnourished children will be declared ‘SUPOSHIT’, and the respective workers will receive public recognition. A dedicated dashboard will monitor the real-time progress of each centre across the state.
Revision in Cost Norms for Uniforms and Winter Wear
To ensure the comfort and dignity of preschool children (ages 3-6), the Deputy CM announced a major hike in the financial allocation under the Malati Devi Prak Vidyalaya Paridhan Yojana.
The revised unit costs, effective from the 2026-27 financial year, are as follows:
• Boys’ Uniform: Increased from ₹100 to ₹175.
• Girls’ Uniform: Increased from ₹150 to ₹225.
• Shoes & Socks: Increased from ₹100 to ₹150.
• Sweaters (Winter Wear): Increased from ₹150 to ₹200. This revision will benefit over 14.76 lakh children across 74,224 centers, with the additional costs being fully funded by the State Government.
On this occasion, Shubha Sharma, Principal Secretary of Women and Child Development , Monisha Banerjee, Director, WCD, Anant Narayan Singh Laguri, Additional Secretary, Swayamprabha Mohanty, Additional Secretary and other senior officials along with Anganwadi workers from various districts were present.
At the end of the program, a group pledge led by the Deputy CM Mrs. Parida was taken for ‘Non-Malnutrition Free Odisha’ .
