More than 21,000 anganwadi centres in Odisha will receive infrastructure upgrades under various government schemes, Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur said. The approvals cover construction of anganwadi centres, drinking water facilities, toilets and other infrastructure improvements.

The move at addressing the basic infrastructure challenges at anganwadi centres, serving as the primary delivery points for early childhood care, preschool education, nutrition and health-related services.

With the Anganwadi centres catering to children below six years as well as pregnant and lactating women, their services programme provides supplementary nutrition, preschool education, nutrition and health education, immunisation, health check-ups and referral services.

Infrastructure remains an important concern for anganwadi services. A NITI Aayog assessment has previously identified gaps in basic facilities at centres, including drinking water, toilets, electricity and suitable buildings.

Odisha has also undertaken state-level initiatives to strengthen anganwadi services. The state's millet-based nutrition programme, for instance, has been implemented across thousands of anganwadi centres in districts including Keonjhar and Sundargarh, providing ragi-based food to preschool children and other beneficiaries.