Seva Sankalp Abhiyan / Dharmendra Pradhan Visits Anganwadi in Anugola's Bamur, Urges Focus on Children's Health

Anugola, Sep 28: Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday visited an Anganwadi centre at Bamur village in Kishorenagar block of Anugola district and spent time with children during a special programme.

Pradhan was welcomed at the centre and distributed fruits, notebooks and pens among the children. He later addressed a gathering of Anganwadi workers and ASHA workers.

Focus On Children’s Health And Well-Being
Speaking at the programme, Pradhan urged Anganwadi and ASHA workers to prioritise the physical and mental health of children.

Pradhan administered a pledge to Anganwadi and ASHA workers to work towards better health and well-being for children.

He also urged people to take responsibility for providing fruits to children by seeking support from members of the community for 15 days every month. He called for greater awareness to make society free of plastic and also urged people to speak out against substance abuse.

‘Future Of India In Hands Of Anganwadi, ASHA Workers’
Addressing the gathering, Pradhan said the future of India was in the hands of Anganwadi and ASHA workers.

He said children attending Anganwadi centres would become the country's future and urged workers to take responsibility for them in the same way families care for children at home.

He also encouraged the Anganwadi workers who had gathered at the programme.

"Whatever hardships they face and whatever remuneration they receive is less than what they deserve for their work," Pradhan said.

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Focus On Three Key Social Issues
Pradhan said, "There are three basic issues that need greater attention in society: firstly, to prioritise the physical and mental health of children, secondly, to curb the use of single-use plastic, and thirdly, to address substance abuse."

He said he had taken a pledge along with the people of Kishorenagar to work on these issues and stressed that achieving them would require widespread public awareness.

Pradhan said, "Kishorenagar block has nearly 1,300 pregnant women and 107 ASHA workers. The block also has nearly 3,500 children aged between zero and three years, of whom around 2,600 attend Anganwadi centres. The physical and mental health of pregnant women, infants and children must be prioritised. This would contribute to the goals of "Viksit Odisha" and "Viksit Bharat"."

The visit was held amid the month-long Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, which began on September 17, the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to Pradhan's remarks.

An Anganwadi worker said, “I was blessed to have met the Honourable MP. Mr Pradhan interacted with the children and felicitated them. One of my students sang the national anthem, for which he was felicitated by Dharmendra Pradhan. We are all feeling elated by his arrival.”