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Bhubaneswar,7/4/2025 ( Odisha Samachar / Rajat Mohapatra )-A significant step towards leveraging artificial intelligence for improved child health was taken today with the inauguration of a five-days Training-cum-Workshop on “AI for Growth Monitoring: Development of an AI Tool for Child Anthropometry.” The event, held at the ICMR Auditorium Hall in Bhubaneswar, was inaugurated by Smt. Shubha Sarma, Principal Secretary, Women & Child Development Department, Government of Odisha.
The inaugural event was graced by the presence of esteemed dignitaries including Dr. Sanghamitra Pati, Director, ICMR-RMRCBB & Additional Director General ICMR, Delhi; Shri N.C. Jyotiranjan Nayak, Additional Secretary, Women & Child Development Department; Dr. Makarand Tapaswi, Lead Investigator from Wadhwani AI; Dr. Subhendu Kumar Acharya, Scientist-D ICMR-RMRC Bhubaneswar; and Dr. Sneha Nikam, National Program Lead from Wadhwani AI.
During the occasion, a comprehensive training module was launched by the dignitaries to guide the field team in the crucial data collection process for the development of the AI tool.
This collaborative initiative is a joint effort by the Ministry of Women & Child Development (MoWCD), Government of India, Wadhwani AI, ICMR-RMRC Bhubaneswar, and Poshan Abhiyaan, Government of India. The aim is to develop an AI-based solution that will simplify and enhance the accuracy of child anthropometric measurements conducted by Anganwadi Workers (AWWs).
The envisioned AI tool will automate the recording of essential child anthropometric data, such as weight, height, head circumference, and chest circumference, through short videos captured on basic smartphones operated by AWWs. This innovative approach seeks to improve the feasibility and precision of anthropometric assessments, enabling the early detection of malnutrition in children.
Odisha has emerged as the first state in India to pilot this crucial study for the development of an AI Tool for Child Anthropometry. Leveraging its prior experience in implementing impactful child health initiatives, Odisha is leading the way, with Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh to follow.
During the five-day training-cum-workshop, the field investigators will receive comprehensive hands-on training on measuring key growth indicators using standardized protocols. Expert trainers from ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), ICMR-RMRC Bhubaneswar and Wadhwani AI will impart the training. Following the training, field investigators (trainees) will undertake a 3-4 month long targeted data collection across the districts of Balasore, Cuttack, Ganjam, Jajpur, Keonjhar, and Mayurbhanj for the pilot assessment and execution.
