Nabarangpur, Oct 24 [UDN}: The district-level children’s sports festival ‘Utsaha-2026’ was successfully organised at the playground of Nabarangpur College by the District Administration in collaboration with the District Child Protection Unit, Nabarangpur. The event aimed to nurture the hidden talents of children residing in the district’s six Child Care Institutions (CCIs), encourage their participation in sports, and promote self-confidence, discipline, teamwork and a spirit of cooperation among them.
The festival was inaugurated by Additional District Magistrate (Revenue) Biswajit Chandra Barman, who attended the inaugural ceremony and formally launched the programme.
Several distinguished officials and dignitaries attended the event as guests of honour. They included District Child Protection Officer Suresh Kumar Patnaik; Chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee Annapurna Patra; members Anupama Mallik, Siddhartha Shankar Behera, Sanuj Kumar Patra and Snehalata Patnaik; District Welfare Officer Palaka Rabindra; District Social Welfare Officer Tanushree Mishra; In-charge District Sports Officer Satyajit Gahan; and In-charge Principal of Nabarangpur College Sangeeta Tripathy.
A wide range of sporting and recreational competitions was organised for children from the six Child Care Institutions. The events included 100-metre and 200-metre races, high jump, long jump, carrom, chess and football. Children participated enthusiastically in the competitions and demonstrated their sporting abilities, determination and competitive spirit.
The festival provided an opportunity for the participating children to showcase their individual talents, develop sportsmanship and interact with one another in a positive and encouraging environment. The competitions were designed not only to promote physical fitness but also to strengthen qualities such as discipline, confidence, mutual respect and teamwork.
In the football competition, Sri Sri Rairam Das Child Care Institution emerged as the winner, marking a notable achievement in the sporting event.
The successful organisation of the festival was supported by several officials and staff members of the District Child Protection Unit and associated child welfare bodies. Those who contributed to the coordination and management of the programme included District Child Protection Unit Legal Officer Kishore Chandra Martha; Institutional Care Officer Kunimani Swain; Data Analyst Kishan Patnaik; Accountant Mahendra Chalan; Social Worker Samarendra Parida; Non-Institutional Care Officer Biswajit Nayak; Outreach Worker Mohan Mali; Child Welfare Committee Data Entry Operator Santosh Kumar Jena; and Childline Case Worker Chaturbhuj Nayak.
Employees and representatives from various Child Care Institutions also extended active cooperation to ensure the smooth conduct of the event.
The district-level ‘Utsaha-2026’ sports festival served as a valuable platform for children living in institutional care to express their abilities, explore their interests and participate in healthy competition. The initiative highlighted the importance of sports in children’s physical, emotional and social development while reinforcing the commitment of the district administration and child protection authorities to the overall welfare, empowerment and holistic development of children.
Leave a Reply