Bhubaneswar, Sept 16: In a major push toward strengthening early childhood care and education infrastructure, Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida on Tuesday virtually inaugurated 913 newly constructed Anganwadi centres in different parts of the state.

The initiative marks a significant step in the government’s mission to upgrade all 74,224 Anganwadi centres into ‘Sakhyam Anganwadis’.

Speaking on the occasion, Deputy CM Parida emphasized that the government is committed to replacing temporary accommodations with permanent structures for every Anganwadi centre. “Where government land is unavailable, we will purchase private land to ensure every centre has its own building,” she said.

The lack of dedicated buildings had previously hindered the storage of essential items like books, toys, and learning materials. Acting on Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s directive, the state has now accelerated efforts to provide proper infrastructure for these vital community institutions.

During the virtual event, Parida instructed district collectors to prioritize centres operating in dilapidated conditions. She also expressed satisfaction over the growing public engagement with the “Let’s Visit Anganwadi” campaign, which has attracted over three lakh participants, turning it into a grassroots movement.

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Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister also addressed the gathering, urging officials to ensure cleanliness and access to safe drinking water at all centres. He described the inauguration as a foundational step toward realizing the goals of Vikasit Odisha-2036 and Viksit Bharat-2047.

Among the districts, Kalahandi led with 90 new buildings, followed by Balasore (77), Ganjam (72), Puri (68), Khurda (61), and Nayagarh (56).

This infrastructure boost is expected to enhance the delivery of nutrition, education, and health services to children and mothers across Odisha, reinforcing the state’s commitment to inclusive development.