By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR:The auspicious inauguration of various schemes, campaigns, memorandums of understanding and projects under the Women and Child Development Department was accomplished under the patronage of Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister Smt. Parvathi Parida.
Deputy Chief Minister Smt. Parida launched ‘Nari Adalat’ as a pilot project in 10 districts. Deputy Chief Minister Smt. Parida also launched the week-long National Girl Child Day-2026 as part of the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ campaign, which will be celebrated from January 17 to January 24.
The event was attended by the Minister of Law, Works and Excise, Shri Prithviraj Harichandan.
‘Nari Adalat’: ‘Nari Adalat’ initiative has been launched in 10 Gram Panchayats across 10 districts to facilitate awareness about women’s rights and provide speedy, amicable dispute resolution through grassroots level dialogue and mediation.
The campaign will include awareness walks in all 30 districts of the state, competitions at the college level, and felicitating successful and deserving students. The main objective of the campaign is to prevent sex-selective abortion, promote gender equality, and bring about a positive change in societal attitudes towards the girl child.
As part of the programme, the operational guidelines of the centrally sponsored ‘Palana’ (Anganwadi-cum-Creche) scheme were also launched. In the first phase, 168 Anganwadi centres in 25 districts of the state, excluding Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Malkangiri, Boudh and Rayagada, have been identified and operationalised as ‘Palana’ centres.
In addition, Deputy Chief Minister Smt. Parida inaugurated a new 100-bed building of Utkal Balashram in Jajpur, constructed at a cost of Rs. 2.49 crore from the state budget, through virtual mode. The department has informed that there are plans to expand this modern kitchen facility to other districts in a phased manner.
The Deputy Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for two integrated Child Welfare Sadans in Khurda and Gajapati districts through virtual medium. These facilities will bring together Child Care Institutions, Child Welfare Committees and Juvenile Justice Boards under one roof. They will provide child-friendly, easy and timely services to children in need of care and protection.
