Malati Devi Prak Vidyalaya Paridhan Yojana : POSHAK

Bhubaneswar: Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE) encompasses elements of care, health, nutrition, play and early learning in a protective and enabling environment. Anganwadi Services foster synergetic and interdependent relationship between health, nutrition, psycho-social and emotional needs of a child of 3 – 6 years age group. AWCs provide children such an enabling environment and prepare them for confidently stepping into universal primary education.
In order to instill in such children a sense of self-esteem, discipline and to dispel absenteeism, Government of Odisha through “Malati Devi Prak Vidyalay Paridhan Yojana” (POSHAK) provides 2 pairs of pre-school uniforms to each child attending the AWCs completely out of State funds. Provision of pre-school uniforms started in the year 2012-13. During the year 2018-19 Rs. 4036.12 lakh has been provided to the districts for distribution to 20,18,060 pre-school children. Districts were instructed to distribute such uniforms over a period of one week between 15th – 22nd July, 2018 in presence of public representatives, PRI members, eminent personalities, members of Mothers Committee / Jaanch Committee, parents / grand parents of children and head master / mistress of school of the AWCs. Distribution of pre-school uniforms is in full swing.