Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg has called for stronger data-based monitoring, better coordination between departments and continuous follow-up to improve social sector schemes at a ‘Prayas’ meeting held at Lokseva Bhawan.
Garg reviewed indicators related to the School and Mass Education, Health and Family Welfare, and Women and Child Development departments during the meeting. She also stressed resolving district-level problems through regular monitoring and follow-up.
Departmental Directors and senior officers attended the meeting. Secretaries of the Women and Child Development, School and Mass Education, Health and Family Welfare, Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes Development, and Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare departments participated in the review. All Revenue Divisional Commissioners and Collectors joined virtually.
The review of the Women and Child Development Department focused on improving child and maternal nutrition. The meeting stressed ensuring nutrition security at the family level through adequate food along with proteins, fats and other essential nutrients.
A coordinated approach involving nutrition gardens, homestead cultivation of vegetables and fruits, seedling distribution and the supply of fresh vegetables through self-help groups was emphasised.
Regular monitoring is also being undertaken to improve nutrition levels at Anganwadi centres across Odisha. The department said measures such as monitoring children’s physical growth, regular home visits, distribution of nutritious food and skill development of Anganwadi workers are being strengthened.
In the education sector, the meeting reviewed efforts to improve children’s Foundational Literacy and Numeracy skills at the primary level. The School and Mass Education Department discussed strengthening regular monitoring of classroom teaching, use of teaching materials and assessment of children’s learning outcomes.
The Health and Family Welfare Department review focused on reducing maternal and newborn mortality, improving newborn treatment and strengthening infection prevention and control.
The department reported that the state’s newborn mortality rate declined between January and July 2026. It also highlighted successful cases of newborn care, including a 500-gram baby treated at the Nabarangpur District Headquarters Hospital who returned home healthy after 78 days, weighing 1.6 kg.
A premature baby born weighing 900 grams at Baripada District Headquarters Hospital was also discharged healthy following treatment.
The meeting further reviewed infection prevention and control measures at health institutions. These include hand hygiene, hospital cleanliness, biomedical waste management and the use of protective equipment.
The department said identified gaps are being addressed through regular inspections, staff retraining and continuous monitoring. For the next ‘Prayas’ review, regular data-based departmental meetings have been standardised across all 30 districts.
The meeting also stressed fixed-day health check-ups for pregnant women, identification and follow-up of high-risk pregnancies, and continuous monitoring of infection prevention systems at health institutions.
Under the 100-day campaign of the TB-Free India Campaign, a state-wide X-ray screening drive will begin from September 1. Collectors have been tasked with maximising the use of available X-ray machines, organising screening camps in remote areas and ensuring daily monitoring and reporting.
District authorities have also been directed to identify household contacts of TB patients for preventive treatment after X-ray screening. Other vulnerable groups linked to TB patients are also to be covered, while eligible beneficiaries will be provided nutritional support promptly.
The Angul Collector said improved medical services, preparations for expectant mothers, practical changes in hospitals and regular monitoring had helped reduce maternal mortality in the district.
The Rayagada Collector highlighted comprehensive anaemia screening among school students and regular distribution of iron-folic acid tablets, which had contributed to an improvement in students’ health condition.
The meeting emphasised making social sector services more effective and people-oriented through data-based monitoring, inter-departmental coordination, grassroots-level accountability and time-bound resolution of identified gaps.
