GLOBAL TIMES NEWS | SEPTEMBER 29, 2026 , BHUBANESWAR: Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg on Tuesday reviewed the progress of key social-sector programmes with senior officials and district collectors, with emphasis on improving service delivery, strengthening field-level monitoring and ensuring measurable outcomes.
The review meeting covered the Women and Child Development, Health and Family Welfare, and School and Mass Education departments. Departmental secretaries and senior officials presented updates on programme implementation, performance indicators and proposed measures for the next phase. District collectors joined the meeting virtually and shared the progress and challenges from their respective districts.
The Chief Secretary stressed the need to strengthen a governance approach built around the principle of “data to action and action to outcomes.” She called for regular assessment of district-level performance, greater field visits by senior officials and replication of successful initiatives from one district or region in other parts of the state.
Focus on Maternal and Child Health
The Health and Family Welfare Department presented an assessment of maternal health indicators. The review noted improvement in the maternal mortality situation compared with earlier periods, with officials attributing progress to continued monitoring and strengthening of services for expectant mothers.
Measures such as improved newborn care, early identification of high-risk pregnancies, referral mechanisms and continuous monitoring were discussed as important components of maternal and child healthcare. The meeting called for further strengthening of these interventions.
Officials also reported progress in the state’s efforts to control tuberculosis.
Nutrition Monitoring Through Data
The Women and Child Development Department presented a detailed assessment of the state’s nutrition indicators.
Child growth and nutritional status are being monitored through Anganwadi Centres, while data-based systems are being used to identify areas requiring greater attention and facilitate targeted interventions.
The review also discussed the use of Poshan Tracker-based data analysis to improve the quality of nutrition services from the Anganwadi level to the state level, identify vulnerable groups and ensure timely corrective action.
According to the review, the number of children categorised as severely malnourished and moderately malnourished has recorded a significant decline, indicating improvement in the state’s nutrition indicators.
Foundational Learning Under Review
The School and Mass Education Department presented its assessment of progress in Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN).
District-level improvements in literacy and gains recorded in numeracy were highlighted during the meeting. Officials also discussed the use of appropriate Teaching-Learning Materials (TLMs) by teachers and the progress made in strengthening foundational education.
The Chief Secretary asked district collectors to maintain regular reviews and field inspections so that successful practices can be expanded and implementation gaps addressed promptly.
Stronger Field Monitoring
The meeting placed particular emphasis on linking maternal and child health, nutrition and foundational education through coordinated action at the grassroots level.
District collectors, senior district officials and sub-collectors were advised to inspect Anganwadi Centres, schools and health facilities during field visits, assess actual service delivery and initiate corrective measures wherever required.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg stressed that progress in the social sector must ultimately translate into tangible and lasting improvements in people’s quality of life. She called for stronger coordination between departments, regular monitoring, accountability at the field level and wider adoption of successful interventions.
Based on the data and progress presented during the review, departments and districts were asked to take more targeted measures, strengthen monitoring mechanisms and improve coordination to deliver better outcomes across Odisha.
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