Odisha CM stresses stronger action on health, nutrition and education

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday stressed the need for a strong and constructive platform to identify and examine complex social-sector issues at the grassroots level and ensure their swift and sustainable resolution.

Chairing a high-level meeting of PRoactive Governance Attempt for Yielding Results and Advancing Social Sector (PRAYASS) at Lok Seva Bhawan here, Majhi reviewed the functioning of three key state government departments: Health and Family Welfare (H&FW), Women and Child Development (W&CD), and School and Mass Education (S&ME).

"Only through these three areas, health, nutrition and quality education, can a strong society be built," the Chief Minister said during the meeting.

CM Majhi directed the concerned departments to take more proactive measures to improve their performance in these sectors, which are closely linked to the basic needs of the people.

During the meeting, Majhi advised the Health and Family Welfare Department to take strong measures to reduce the maternal mortality rate to the lowest possible level.

The Chief Minister also directed the department to work in mission mode with the objective of reducing infant mortality and neonatal mortality rates.

He particularly stressed the need to provide the best possible healthcare facilities to pregnant women and newborns in rural and remote areas.

He also called for greater accountability among healthcare workers and stronger emergency services at medical facilities.

The Chief Minister reviewed the issue of malnutrition among children, including stunting and wasting, and directed the authorities to further intensify the Suposhit Odisha Mission campaign to eradicate these problems and improve the health of mothers and children.

He also stressed the need to ensure the quality and monitoring of food and nutritional supplements provided to children through Anganwadi centres.

During the review of the education sector, Majhi advised the School and Mass Education Department to make every effort to improve the quality of foundational education from the primary level.

He also said teachers should focus on teaching and the core functions of education to improve students' learning outcomes.

Chief Secretary Anu Garg, Development Commissioner D.K. Singh, and senior officials of the three departments attended the meeting.

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