Odisha CM Majhi pushes family role in child nutrition at Poshan Maah
Synopsis
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi used the 9th Rashtriya Poshan Maah event in Bhubaneswar to push an underreported angle in nutrition policy — the active role of fathers and male family members. With over 46 lakh activities held statewide and Odisha topping the country in Aadhaar verification, the state is positioning itself as a national model for grassroots nutrition delivery.
Key Takeaways
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi addressed the 9th Rashtriya Poshan Maah celebration at an Anganwadi centre in Barmunda, Bhubaneswar on 29 September .
More than 46 lakh activities were organised across Odisha during Poshan Maah; the state ranked first nationally in Aadhaar verification.
Majhi called for active participation of fathers and family members — not just mothers — in child nutrition, especially during the critical first 1,000 days of a child's life.
Odisha allocates at least 40 per cent of its annual budget to women's welfare, with schemes including Subhadra Yojana and Lakhpati Didi .
Education is fee-free up to postgraduate level in government institutions; girl graduates to receive ₹1 lakh upon completion.
The state has moved from having the second-highest infant and maternal mortality rates in the country to a 'satisfactory position,' according to Majhi.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday, 29 September called for greater involvement of fathers and other family members — not just mothers — in ensuring adequate nutrition and holistic development of children, reaffirming the state government's commitment to building a 'well-nourished Odisha'. He was speaking at the state-level celebration of Angan Ka Utsav and the 9th Rashtriya Poshan Maah (National Nutrition Month), held at an Anganwadi centre in Barmunda, Bhubaneswar.
Key Announcements at the Event
Chief Minister Majhi highlighted that more than 46 lakh activities were successfully organised across Odisha during Poshan Maah this year. He also noted that the state secured first position in the country in Aadhaar verification — a metric tied to tracking beneficiaries under nutrition programmes.
Majhi underscored the critical importance of the first 1,000 days of a child's life, urging fathers and extended family members to actively participate alongside mothers in childcare and nutritional support. During the programme, he distributed school kits to Anganwadi children and personally served food to children after inspecting the Tiranga Thali and hot-cooked meals at the centre.
What the Government Said
'Through awareness and successful implementation of various programmes, we will certainly establish Odisha as a well-nourished state. The government is committed to a well-nourished Odisha,' Majhi said at the event.
He credited Anganwadi workers, helpers, ANMs, and ASHA workers for driving improvements in child immunisation, promoting institutional deliveries, and significantly reducing infant and maternal mortality rates. Majhi noted that Odisha, once ranked among states with the second-highest infant and maternal mortality rates in the country, had now reached a 'satisfactory position.'
Women's Welfare and Education Initiatives
The Chief Minister also highlighted several state welfare schemes aimed at women, including Subhadra Yojana, Lakhpati Didi, Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Yojana, and Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumangal Yojana. He stated that at least 40 per cent of Odisha's annual budget is directed towards women's welfare.
On education, Majhi said tuition has been made fee-free in government and government-aided institutions up to the postgraduate level, with girl children set to receive ₹1 lakh upon completing graduation. He also referenced cashless treatment available at selected private hospitals under the Ayushman Bharat-Gopabandhu Jana Arogya Yojana.
Who Attended
Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, Ekamra-Bhubaneswar MLA Babu Singh, and senior state officials attended alongside Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers, children, and their parents. Majhi also felicitated fathers who participated in healthy-food presentations and honoured frontline Anganwadi and ASHA workers for their contributions.
The event signals a broader state push to mainstream male participation in child nutrition — a shift that nutrition experts have long advocated as essential for sustainable outcomes at the household level.
Point of View
Not an outcome one; the harder test is whether stunting and anaemia numbers are moving. The state's claim of dramatically improved infant and maternal mortality is credible in direction but warrants independent data verification before it can be treated as a benchmark. The bundling of welfare schemes — from Subhadra Yojana to cashless hospital care — into a nutrition event also reflects a political communication strategy as much as a policy one.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rashtriya Poshan Maah and why did Odisha celebrate it?
Rashtriya Poshan Maah, or National Nutrition Month, is observed every September across India to drive awareness and action on malnutrition. Odisha held its state-level celebration of the 9th edition at an Anganwadi centre in Barmunda, Bhubaneswar, on 29 September, with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi presiding over the event.
What did Odisha CM Majhi say about fathers and child nutrition?
Majhi called for active participation of fathers and other family members — alongside mothers — in childcare and nutrition, particularly emphasising the importance of the first 1,000 days of a child's life. He felicitated fathers who took part in healthy-food presentations at the event.
How many activities did Odisha organise during Poshan Maah 2024?
According to Chief Minister Majhi, more than 46 lakh activities were successfully organised across Odisha during Poshan Maah. The state also secured first position in the country in Aadhaar verification linked to nutrition programme beneficiaries.
What welfare schemes for women did the Odisha CM highlight?
Majhi referenced Subhadra Yojana, Lakhpati Didi, Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Yojana, and Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumangal Yojana, noting that at least 40 per cent of the state's annual budget is spent on women's welfare. Girl children are also set to receive ₹1 lakh upon completing graduation.
How has Odisha's infant and maternal mortality situation changed?
Chief Minister Majhi stated that Odisha, once ranked among states with the second-highest infant and maternal mortality rates in the country, has now reached a 'satisfactory position.' He credited Anganwadi workers, ANMs, and ASHA workers for driving improvements in immunisation and institutional deliveries.
