Odisha hikes Anganwadi uniform and winter wear allowance, but adequacy questioned

Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida on Tuesday announced a hike in the uniform, footwear and winter wear allowances provided to children attending Anganwadi centres across the state. The decision is expected to benefit over 14.76 lakh children enrolled in 74,224 Anganwadi centres , with the entire additional cost funded by the state government.

The enhanced support is being extended under the Malati Devi Prak Vidyalaya Paridhan Yojana for preschool children aged three to six years. As per the revised structure, the annual one-time allowance for boys’ uniforms has been increased from Rs 100 to Rs 175, while the girls’ uniform allowance has been raised from Rs 150 to Rs 225 . The assistance for shoes and socks has been revised to Rs 150 , and the allowance for sweaters or winter wear has been increased to Rs 200 . The revised rates will be effective from the 2026-27 financial year .

The announcement was made at an event held at the State Institute for Women and Children, where Parida also inaugurated the Panchatatwa Park and launched the Suposhit Odisha Mission. She further laid the foundation stone for the Subhadra Resource Centre, a planned integrated facility that will include a 400-seat auditorium, a toy museum and other child-focused infrastructure.

The Suposhit Odisha Mission aims to turn Anganwadi centres into malnutrition-free zones through community participation, improved nutritional monitoring and real-time tracking of children’s health indicators. Anganwadi centres achieving zero cases of underweight or malnourished children are expected to receive public recognition under the initiative.

Addressing officials, Parida stressed that the fight against malnutrition must begin at home. She urged authorities to educate and empower mothers at the grassroots level and encouraged citizens to celebrate personal milestones such as birthdays by distributing fruits to local Anganwadi children, promoting healthier dietary habits.

Despite the government’s emphasis on child welfare, the revised allowances have triggered questions over their adequacy . The assistance is provided as a yearly payment , and Anganwadi centres do not supply uniforms directly , leaving parents to purchase uniforms, shoes and winter wear on their own . Critics argue that the revised amounts may still fall short of actual market prices , especially for durable clothing or in urban areas, forcing families to bear additional out-of-pocket expenses .

While the increase reflects an acknowledgement of inflation and rising costs , observers say the support may not fully cover the annual expenses associated with school-ready clothing , potentially limiting the scheme’s real-world impact on low-income households.