Bhubaneswar: The state govt has roped in National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers from colleges across the state to conduct anthropometric assessments of children at anganwadi centres under the SUPOSHIT Odisha Mission, a statewide initiative aimed at eliminating child malnutrition by 2029.The higher education department on Tuesday directed principals of selected colleges to mobilise eligible female NSS volunteers to support the women and child development department in measuring the height and weight of children aged 0-6 years. The exercise will begin from July 20.Department officials said the survey is part of the SUPOSHIT Odisha Mission (SOM), which seeks to make all anganwadi centres in the state malnutrition-free by eliminating severe acute malnutrition (SAM), moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) and severe underweight (SUW) among children by 2029. The periodic assessments are intended to validate the nutritional status of children and facilitate timely interventions.Only female NSS volunteers pursuing second or third-year undergraduate courses or second-year postgraduate studies would be eligible. Volunteers would work in two-member teams, each equipped with a smartphone for digital data collection.The department has asked principals to submit details of interested volunteers to the department by July 9. Officials added that there would be a district-wise deployment plan covering 30 districts, requiring volunteers from hundreds of NSS units. In all, the state plans to assess 74,223 anganwadi centres with the support of 10,557 NSS volunteers.The department officials informed that volunteers would gain hands-on experience in using digital assessment applications and community engagement while contributing to a statewide effort to improve nutrition outcomes for over 30 lakh children. The govt would also issue participation certificates to volunteers.
