Bhubaneswar: Odisha has achieved the highest decline in infant mortality rate and second highest decline in maternal mortality rate in the country, Women and Child Development Minister Basanti Hembram said Wednesday.
Briefing newspersons on Budget 2023–24, Hembram said ‘Mamata’ has utilised a sum of Rs 2,676.42 crore and provided financial support for the improvement of nutritional and health status of 55.84 lakh of pregnant and lactating mother, thereby reducing the maternal and infant mortality.
The government has proposed an outlay of Rs 52 crore under Ashirbad scheme and Rs 219 crore under Mamata scheme during 2023-24.
In the aftermath of Covid-19 pandemic, the Government introduced the Ashirbad scheme for bringing positive development in the lives of children who lost their parents through financial aid which has benefited 46,704 children.
The Government, she said, will address the issue of malnutrition among adolescent girls pregnant and lactating mothers, severely underweight, SAM and MAM children across the state under the Mukhyamantri Sampoorna Pushti Yojana (MSPY) with an investment of Rs 3,000 crore during 2023-24 to 2027-28.
WCD, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Subha Sharma said Odisha has affirmed its commitment towards eradication of malnutrition, protection of life and security of women and children including their empowerment.
The department is implementing the scheme like Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) with a proposed outlay of Rs 1,043 crore during 2023-24 to bridge the gap between Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) and Average Daily Intake (ADI) and the scheme Poshan 2.0 to eradicate malnutrition and hunger in children up to 6 years, adolescent girls from 14 to 18 years, pregnant women and lactating mother.
UNI
