BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha government is set to mobilize 5,000 college students, primarily from the National Service Scheme (NSS), to perform anthropometric assessments of children at anganwadi centres under the ‘Suposhit Odisha Mission’.

Following guidance from the Women and Child Development (WCD) department, Kali Prasanna Mohapatra, the state’s Director of Higher Education, led a meeting with selected colleges to initiate the screening effort. “We have initially selected around 200 colleges for this initiative. The NSS volunteers from these institutions will visit various anganwadi centres to measure the height and weight of children, subsequently submitting their findings to the relevant authorities for growth monitoring as part of the Suposhit mission,” Mohapatra informed TNIE.

The initiative aims to involve approximately 5,000 NSS volunteers in over 30,000 anganwadi centres statewide. In addition to measuring the height and weight of enrolled children, the assessments will also include infants at these centres.

Mohapatra explained that this community service project will not only help generate a new database for monitoring the growth of infants and children, thus guiding nutritional interventions, but it will also offer the volunteers valuable, practical experience that complements their academic studies.

Furthermore, the director noted that volunteers will receive ₹500 for each anganwadi centre they cover, along with travel allowances, for their participation in the screening drive. A workshop for master trainers will be organized soon for college faculty and staff, who will then train the NSS volunteers to implement the program effectively.

Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida launched the ‘Suposhit Odisha Mission’ in November 2025 with the goal of enhancing child nutrition throughout the state. The mission seeks to combat malnutrition and foster the health and development of every child.