Odisha Stands Tall as Achiever in Country with Highest Decline in Infant Mortality Rate: Hembram

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government led by Chief Minister Sri Naveen Patnaik, has consistently and unwaveringly placed Women and Children in the central position while framing policies. Odisha is one of the few states that has introduced and effectively ensured Gender and child budgeting, resulting in constant flow of funds for improvement of women and children’s nutritional status, early child care and empowerment of adolescents, said Basanti Hembram, Minister, Women and Child Development .

Addressing the media at Geeta Gobind Sadan today on Budget 2023-24, the Minister said that Odisha stands tall as an achiever in the country with highest decline in infant mortality rate and second highest decline in maternal mortality rate. In the aftermath of Covid-19 pandemic, Government has introduced Ashirbad scheme for bringing positive development in the lives of children who lost their parents through financial aid which has benefited 46704 children.
The Minister said, “Our popular scheme MAMATA has utilised a sum of Rs 2676.42 crore and has provided financial support for improvement of nutritional and health status of 55.84 lakh of pregnant and lactating mother, thereby reducing the maternal and infant mortality. We have proposed outlay of Rs 52 crore under Ashirbad and Rs 219 crore under MAMATA scheme during 2023-24”.

The Government will address the issue of malnutrition among adolescent girls 15-19 years, pregnant and lactating mothers and severely under weight, SAM and MAM children under 6yrs of age across the state by introducing the scheme Mukhyamantri Sampoorna Pushti Yojana (MSPY) with investment of Rs 3000 crore during the period from 2023-24 to 2027-28. In order to provide a uniform look and motivate the younger toddler to attend Anganwadi Centres , two uniforms / one pair of shoe /one sweater per child are supplied under the scheme Malati Devi Prak Vidyalaya Paridhan Yojana . Budget Provision of Rs 250 crore and Rs 91.13 crore have been proposed during 2023-24 under MSPY and Pre-school uniforms respectively.

Introduction of scheme like Advika and Adolescent Empowerment with a proposed outlay of Rs 5 crore during 2023-24 to end child marriage and set adolescent on the path of empowerment through life education. Swadhar Greh and Ujjawala with proposed outlay of Rs 37.77 crore during 2023-24 have been made for prevention of trafficking and rescue, rehabilitation and re-integration of victim of trafficking, sexual exploitation etc. The scheme One Stop Centre is going on to provide 24X7 integrated support and assistance Centre for women and children in distress where as the scheme Women Helpline run by the Department aims to provide toll free 24 hours telecom service to women affected by violence, said Hembram.

Subha Sharma, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, WCD Department said that Odisha has affirmed its commitment towards eradication of malnutrition, protection of life and security of women and children including their empowerment. The Department is implementing the scheme like Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) with proposed outlay of Rs 1043 crore during 2023-24 to bridge the gap between Recommended Dietary Allowance(RDA) and Average Daily Intake (ADI) and the scheme POSHAN-2.0 to eradicate malnutrition and hunger in children upto 6 years, adolescent girls from 14 to 18 years, pregnant women and lactating mother. Mission Vastalya, the scheme implemented by the Department aims to protect child’s right and best interest of child by building a protective environment. The proposed BE during 2023-24 under POSHAN 2.0 stands at Rs 175 crore and under Mission Vastalya the same is Rs 85.00 crore.

Women & Child Development Department is a major pillar of the state which has taken up a number of initiative for improving the health and nutritional status women and children and to ensure their safety & security . The Department has submitted the Budget proposal amounting to Rs.3670.00 crore in BE 2023-24 out of which Rs.3641.00 crore is under programme expenditure (SS Rs1100.00crore and CSS Rs.2541.00 crore) and Rs.29.00 crore is under Administrative expenditure in respect of Demand No.36 as against the Revised Estimate of Rs 3724.17 crore for the year 2022-23, Sharma said.

Director WCD Arabind Agrawal and other senior officers of the Department were present. Gurbeer Singh, Joint Director, I&PR coordinated the Press Conference.