New Child Protection Initiative in Odisha
The Odisha government has announced plans to establish Child Help Desks at railway stations and bus stands throughout the state. This decision was taken at a state-level child protection review meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja on July 24, 2025, at Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar. The initiative aims to enhance safety mechanisms for vulnerable children in public spaces. 0
Mission Vatsalya: The Catalyst
The move aligns with the Central Government’s Mission Vatsalya scheme, which focuses on comprehensive child welfare, rehabilitation, and adoption support. Odisha officials reviewed strategies to implement the mission more effectively across various institutional and non‑institutional frameworks. 1
Child Welfare Infrastructure in Odisha
As of mid‑2025, Odisha operates 220 Child Care Institutions (CCIs), 30 District Child Protection Units (DCPUs), 31 Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), 34 Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs), 36 Juvenile Police Units, 33 adoption agencies, and 160 children’s homes. Around 8,150 children are under institutional care, and 98% of them have Aadhaar registration. 2
Support Schemes & Rehabilitation Efforts
The state has enrolled over 51,000 children in Ashirbad Yojana, which offers financial and social support. Vocational training via 264 programs and self-employment opportunities have helped 211 children secure jobs, with 79 becoming self-employed. The state also provides marriage assistance for children exiting institutional care. 3
Digital & Emergency Support Systems
Odisha is implementing the Amari Shishu portal to digitise all child protection data in real time. Additionally, emergency helplines like Childline 1098, Women Helpline 181, and Emergency Response 112 have been integrated for swift response across the state. 4
Memorandum of Collective Action
The meeting underscored the importance of collaboration across departments—Women & Child Development, Education, Health, Home, Panchayati Raj, Skill Development, and more. Chief Secretary Ahuja directed enhanced district-level monitoring and regular visits by senior officials to schools and CCIs. 5
Quick Facts & Timeline
- Date of meeting: July 24, 2025
- Chairperson: Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja
- Institutional Units: 220 CCIs, 30 DCPUs, 31 CWCs, 34 JJBs
- Children protected: ~8,150 institutional; ~51,000 under Ashirbad Yojana
- Digital initiative: Amari Shishu portal
- Help desks planned at: 144+ railway stations and several bus stands
Trivia & Quiz Insight
Trivia fans: Which Indian state plans to open Child Help Desks at more than 144 railway stations and multiple bus stands? Answer: Odisha. And what is the name of the state portal that tracks child protection data digitally? Answer: Amari Shishu.
Source: Odisha Tv