The Ministry of Women and Child Development marked a significant milestone with the inauguration of a new Regional Centre of the Savitribai Phule National Institute of Women and Child Development (SPNIWCD)- erstwhile National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development - NIPCCD in Ranchi, Jharkhand.
The Regional Centre was inaugurated by the Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt. Annapurna Devi. The inaugural ceremony was graced by the presence of Smt. Savitri Thakur, Minister of State in the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India; Shri Sanjay Seth, Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence, Government of India; and Shri Navin Jaiswal, MLA, Hatia, along with senior officials from the Ministry.
The event commenced with the unveiling of the plaque and ceremonial lighting of the lamp by the dignitaries. Highlights of the ceremony included interactions with trainee girls, sharing of personal stories, and distribution of Placement Certificates to successful candidates of vocational training programmes.
Short films were screened showcasing the evolution of NIPCCD into the Savitribai Phule Institute, the importance of local nutrition practices, and the Ministry’s flagship schemes. A new logo of the Institute was also unveiled, symbolising its renewed vision and identity.
Delivering the keynote address, Union Minister Smt. Annpurna Devi emphasised the critical role of this Regional Centre in advancing women and child development, she added that Working in the field of women and child development is not just an administrative duty it is nation-building.
When a woman is empowered, the family is empowered. When a child is nurtured, the entire society is safe. This Ranchi centre will produce thousands of trainers, researchers, policymakers, and social workers who will take this message to every village and hamlet.
Addressing the gathering, Minister of State in the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Smt. Savitri Thakur, said that inspired by the ideals of Savitribai Phule ji, this new centre will not only serve as a hub for education and training but will also emerge as a centre for innovation, research, and policy-making.
The Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence, Shri Sanjay Seth, underlined the significance of capacity building in development and said that the field functionaries are the backbone of last-mile delivery.
By investing in their capacity building through regional centres like this, we are ensuring they are better trained, better informed, and more empowered to serve every woman and child with competence, compassion, and commitment.
Strong systems begin with strong people. The establishment of this Regional Centre in Ranchi is a significant step towards decentralising capacity building and strengthening last-mile service delivery in eastern India. The centre has been strategically envisioned to cater to the specific training and research needs of States such as Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, and West Bengal.
It will primarily support the implementation of the Ministry’s flagship schemes Mission Shakti, Mission Vatsalya, and Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0 through regionally tailored interventions and training programmes.
A key feature of the new centre is the introduction of an Advanced Diploma Course in Child Guidance and Counselling, along with upgraded training modules for frontline workers. These initiatives are expected to significantly enhance skilling and employment opportunities in the region.
Previously, States in this region relied on Regional Centres in Guwahati and Lucknow for capacity-building needs, often facing logistical hurdles. The inauguration of the Ranchi Centre addresses this longstanding gap and brings institutional support closer to field-level stakeholders.
This development is part of the broader transformation being spearheaded under the leadership of Union Minister Smt. Annpurna Devi, which also includes the renaming of National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD) to the Savitribai Phule National Institute of Women and Child Development (SPNIWCD).
The renaming reflects a renewed commitment to mission-driven, inclusive, and women-centric development, honouring the legacy of one of India’s foremost social reformers. With its headquarters in New Delhi and Regional Centres in Bengaluru, Guwahati, Lucknow, Indore, and Mohali, the Institute has been instrumental in training over 1,000 professionals annually through a combination of virtual and in-person platforms.
The addition of the Ranchi Centre is expected to further augment this impact across eastern India. This landmark initiative reaffirms the Government of India’s steadfast commitment to strengthening institutional frameworks, promoting regionally relevant capacity building, and fostering a more inclusive, empowered, and healthy India under the visionary leadership of the Prime Minister.