Union Minister of Women & Child Development, Smt. Annpurna Devi, Union Minister of State, Smt. Savitri Thakur, and senior officials from the Ministry called on Hon’ble Vice-President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan at Parliament House today.
The Vice-President was apprised of the Ministry’s key schemes, recent initiatives, and strategic future plans during the meeting. The Vice-President was briefed on the Ministry’s concerted efforts and long-term vision to provide a safe, secure, healthy, and productive environment for women and children.
The Vice-President was apprised of flagship missions such as Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0, Mission Vatsalya, and Mission Shakti, aimed at addressing nutrition, safety, and empowerment issues of women and children across the country.
The presentation showcased a steady decline in malnutrition indicators such as stunting and underweight, along with a lifecycle approach to nutrition through supplementary food, immunization, health check-ups, and referral services.
It also highlighted steady improvements in Anganwadi infrastructure and in institutional and non-institutional care for children, including sponsorship, foster care, adoption, and aftercare mechanisms.
The Vice-President was also briefed on various interventions for the safety, security, and empowerment of women, including One-Stop Centres, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Women Helpline, Nari Adalats, Sakhi Niwas, and Shakti Sadan.
The Vice-President emphasized the need for continuous supervision and monitoring of the Ministry’s initiatives and schemes, along with proper motivation of grassroots-level workers who implement these programmes.
He stressed that the Ministry’s welfare measures for women and children must be effectively communicated to the intended beneficiaries to ensure that the benefits reach all eligible individuals and no one is left behind.
He observed that awareness campaigns should be region-specific and tailored to the unique needs of various states and districts. Drawing from his experience as Governor of Maharashtra and Jharkhand, he shared his observations on the functioning of Anganwadi Centres and ASHA workers and suggested that best practices and innovative initiatives from different states be shared widely for effective nationwide implementation.
The Vice-President appreciated the joint efforts of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Women & Child Development in fostering coordination between Anganwadi Centres and private pre-primary schools.
He emphasized the need for more such collaborative approaches and called for a focused effort for the welfare of women and children from tribal communities, particularly in states with dense tribal populations.
Shri Radhakrishnan lauded the Ministry’s digital-driven approach, including innovative mobile applications and facial recognition technology, which ensure that benefits reach all eligible beneficiaries efficiently and transparently.
He observed that effective implementation would minimize leakages and wastage of funds, enabling the government to launch additional welfare programmes for women and children. He also highlighted the significant role of spiritual and non-governmental organizations in providing both institutional and non-institutional care for children.
He noted that these organizations, with their vast volunteer networks and expertise, could be engaged more effectively through robust monitoring mechanisms. The Vice-President appreciated the increase in child adoptions in recent years but emphasized the need for better coordination with district administrations to expedite adoption procedures and ensure that adopted children are placed in safe environments.
Expressing concern over the safety of women and incidents of sexual harassment in workplaces, the Vice-President underlined the importance of generating widespread awareness about the legal consequences of crimes against women and children.
He expressed satisfaction that the PM CARES Fund has supported children who lost their parents during the COVID-19 pandemic and welcomed its expansion to assist victims of natural disasters such as floods. He also appreciated the construction of government hostels for working women, observing that such facilities will help address accommodation and safety concerns of working women.
The Vice-President commended schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), under which benefits are directly transferred to beneficiaries’ accounts through DBT, and the ‘She-Box’ portal, which facilitates complaints related to sexual harassment at workplace.
Regarding the issue of child marriage, the Vice-President stressed the need for intensive awareness and sensitization programmes in communities and regions where the practice remains prevalent, urging community leaders to play an active role in eradicating the custom.
He expressed satisfaction over the increased funding and successful implementation of projects under the Nirbhaya Fund. Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan expressed happiness over the expanding opportunities for women in education, employment, and entrepreneurship.
He reiterated the need for continuous supervision, motivation, and collaboration to ensure further progress in women and child welfare initiatives across the nation.