Odisha’s Women and Child Development (WCD) Department has unveiled two transformative initiatives on January 14, 2026, to fortify early childhood education and combat child marriage, addressing entrenched challenges in the state’s tribal-majority districts where dropout rates hover at 20-25% and early unions persist. The flagship ‘Ame Padhiba Ama Bhasare’ (We Will Study in Our Own Language) scheme, a five-year NEP 2020-aligned program, targets children aged three to six in six aspirational districts, delivering foundational education in native tongues to bridge linguistic barriers and boost retention. Complementing this is a 100-day intensive campaign against child marriage, piloted in two districts, alongside a UNICEF-backed support program for adolescent mothers—aiming for a child marriage-free Odisha by 2030. Inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida at the State Institute of Women and Children in Baripada, these efforts underscore the state’s commitment to women’s empowerment, as Parida stated: “Women’s empowerment is key to a developed Odisha, ensuring a safe, equal, and respectful environment for women and children.” With 8,159 child marriages registered statewide from 2019 to February 2025—highest in Nabarangpur (1,347 cases)—these launches, including new infrastructure like ICDS quarters, could slash early marriage incidents by 15-20% while elevating tribal enrollment by 10-12%, fostering an inclusive educational ecosystem.
Key Points:
- Launch Spotlight: January 14, 2026, by Deputy CM Pravati Parida; ties to developed Odisha vision.
- Dual Focus: Mother-tongue scheme for 3-6-year-olds; 100-day anti-marriage drive + adolescent pilot.
- Crisis Stats: 8,159 child marriages (2019–Feb 2025); Nabarangpur leads with 1,347 cases.
- Projected Gains: 15-20% marriage drop; 10-12% tribal enrollment rise via NEP alignment.
‘Ame Padhiba Ama Bhasare’ Scheme: Mother-Tongue Foundations for Tribal Early Learners
Named evocatively as “We Will Study in Our Own Language,” this flagship initiative pioneers NEP 2020’s emphasis on multilingualism by immersing children aged three to six in tribal dialects during foundational years, countering the 30-40% comprehension gaps in non-native mediums that plague Odisha’s tribal belts. Rolled out as a five-year pilot across six high-priority districts—Keonjhar, Kandhamal, Gajapati, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, and Malkangiri—the scheme equips Anganwadi workers with specialized training and culturally resonant materials in languages like Munda, Kui, Saura, Kuvi, Gondi, and Koya. Parida urged its popularization akin to the 2024 Subhadra Yojana financial aid program, highlighting how such accessibility could mirror that scheme’s swift uptake. By fostering cognitive ease and cultural pride, the program not only aims to reduce early dropouts—linked to language alienation—but also lays a resilient base for lifelong learning, potentially serving as a scalable model for Odisha’s 40% tribal population and inspiring similar interventions in neighboring Chhattisgarh.
Key Points:
- Age & Scope: 3-6-year-olds; five-year pilot in 6 tribal districts.
- Linguistic Core: Training/materials in Munda/Kui/Saura/Kuvi/Gondi/Koya; combats 30-40% gaps.
- Parida’s Push: “Popularize like Subhadra Yojana”; cultural pride via immersion.
- Model Potential: Dropout reducer for 40% tribal pop; Chhattisgarh inspiration.
100-Day Campaign Against Child Marriage: Community Mobilization for Zero-Tolerance Zones
Complementing the educational thrust, the 100-day campaign launches a hyper-local assault on child marriage, piloting in Mayurbhanj and Malkangiri districts—hotspots with 594 and 400+ cases respectively since 2019—through grassroots awareness drives led by ASHA workers, Anganwadi staff, and youth leaders. Monitored by district collectors, the initiative leverages institutional platforms for education, protection, and community dialogues, aiming to replicate successes like Ganjam’s child marriage-free status since 2022, where 11,000 villages have renounced the practice statewide. Parida’s vision frames it as a cornerstone for gender equity: “The state’s priority is to ensure a safe, equal and respectful environment for women and children.” By integrating school curricula with anti-marriage modules, the campaign could avert 500-700 unions in pilots alone, contributing to Odisha’s 2030 eradication goal and narrowing the 25% gender parity lag in secondary education.
Key Points:
- Pilot Scope: Mayurbhanj/Malkangiri; 100 days of awareness/protection.
- Mobilization Mix: ASHA/Anganwadi/youth leads; collector oversight.
- Success Echo: Ganjam model; 11,000 villages renounced; 2030 zero target.
- Equity Anchor: 25% secondary parity fix; 500-700 unions prevented.
Adolescent Mothers Pilot: Integrated Support as a Statewide Blueprint
In a forward-thinking extension, the UNICEF-collaborated pilot in Mayurbhanj targets adolescent mothers with holistic packages encompassing health, nutrition, re-education, social protection, and skill development—addressing the vicious cycle where early pregnancies sideline 15-20% of girls from schooling. Parida hailed it as “expected to serve as a model for the state,” integrating re-entry pathways and vocational training to prevent recurrence and empower participants as community advocates. This nuanced intervention, amid Odisha’s 8,159 registered cases, could reclaim 1,000+ futures annually, blending welfare with empowerment to foster intergenerational equity and reduce the 30% adolescent fertility rate in tribal zones.
Key Points:
- Targeted Aid: Mayurbhanj pilot; health/nutrition/re-ed/skills via UNICEF.
- Cycle Breaker: 15-20% girl school sideline fix; 1,000+ annual reclaims.
- Parida’s Model: “Serve as statewide blueprint”; advocacy empowerment.
- Fertility Impact: 30% tribal rate drop via integrated paths.
Implementation Strategy: Pilots, Infrastructure, and Monitoring for Scalable Success
Execution hinges on district-level pilots with robust monitoring—Anganwadi training for the scheme, collector-led campaigns, and UNICEF metrics for the adolescent program—bolstered by infrastructure like the new Baripali administrative building and ICDS quarters in Boudh/Kandhamal. Parida’s call for Subhadra-like popularity ensures community buy-in, with phased scaling post-pilot evaluations by mid-2026. This grounded approach, leveraging existing networks, minimizes rollout costs (under ₹50 crore estimated) while maximizing reach, positioning Odisha as an eastern education vanguard.
Key Points:
- Pilot Backbone: District monitoring; Anganwadi training central.
- Infra Boost: Baripali building + ICDS quarters in 2 districts.
- Popularity Play: Subhadra emulation; mid-2026 scaling eval.
- Cost Efficiency: <₹50 crore; eastern vanguard status.
Broader Impacts: Elevating Education, Gender Equity, and Tribal Inclusion
These initiatives ripple into Odisha’s social fabric, advancing NEP’s multilingual equity while curbing child marriage’s 20% education drag—potentially lifting tribal GER by 10% and gender parity by 15% through re-entry models. As 11 districts eye child marriage-free tags, the state’s 2030 vision gains momentum, inspiring national replication and underscoring WCD’s role in Viksit Odisha’s human capital build.
Key Points:
- Education Lift: 10% tribal GER; 20% marriage-drag cut.
- Gender Gains: 15% parity via re-entry; 11 districts free-target.
- National Spark: Replication cue; Viksit human capital.
- WCD Role: Momentum for 2030 vision.
