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In a significant move to streamline and enhance welfare programs, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has consolidated its numerous schemes into three primary verticals: Saksham Anganwadi Poshan 2.0, Mission Shakti, and Mission Vatsalya. This reorganization aims to improve implementation and monitoring of programs dedicated to the betterment of children and women across India.
Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0
Mission Poshan 2.0, a cornerstone of this restructuring, focuses on improving nutrition and health indicators in the country. The scheme integrates the Anganwadi Services Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyaan, and the Scheme for Adolescent Girls into three sub-verticals:
- Nutrition Support for POSHAN and Adolescent Girls: This initiative provides essential nutritional support, addressing deficiencies and promoting healthy growth.
- Early Childhood Care and Education [3-6 years]: Emphasizing the critical early years, this program ensures comprehensive early childhood development and education.
- Anganwadi Infrastructure: Upgrading and modernizing Anganwadi centers, transforming them into Saksham Anganwadis, to provide a conducive environment for child development.
An important aspect of the POSHAN Abhiyaan scheme is the supply of fortified rice to Anganwadi Centres, which aims to combat micronutrient deficiencies and control anemia among children. The scheme also promotes the use of millets in Hot Cooked Meals and Take Home Rations (THR) to enhance dietary diversity and nutritional intake.
Mission Shakti
Mission Shakti is dedicated to the safety, protection, and empowerment of women through its two sub-verticals, ‘Sambal’ and ‘Samarthya’.
- Sambal: Focuses on the safety and security of women, incorporating existing schemes such as One Stop Centres (OSC), Women Helpline (181-WHL), and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP). Notably, the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme is currently not implemented in West Bengal, despite ongoing engagement with the state government.
- Samarthya: Aims to empower women through schemes like Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), Ujjwala, Swadhar Greh (renamed as Shakti Sadan), and Working Women Hostel (renamed as Sakhi Niwas). It also includes the National Hub for Empowerment of Women (NHEW) and the National Creche Scheme (renamed as Palna).
Mission Vatsalya
Mission Vatsalya has been launched to protect, care for, and ensure the welfare of children in difficult circumstances. By subsuming the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS), Mission Vatsalya aims to:
- Support and Sustain Children: Provide aid to children in distressing situations.
- Develop Context-Based Solutions: Cater to the holistic development of children from diverse backgrounds.
- Encourage Innovative Solutions: Support greenfield projects for innovative child welfare solutions.
- Promote Convergent Action: Facilitate gap funding to ensure comprehensive support.
Implementation and Monitoring
The Ministry has issued detailed criteria, rules, regulations, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the implementation of these schemes to all States and Union Territories. These guidelines are also available on the Ministry’s official website, www.wcd.nic.in. Regular correspondence, review meetings, and video conferences ensure sustained engagement and efficient implementation of these programs.
Minister’s Statement
This comprehensive restructuring was announced by the Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Annapurna Devi, in the Lok Sabha in response to a parliamentary question. The Minister emphasized that these initiatives are designed to foster a holistic and inclusive approach to the welfare of women and children, ensuring that no one is left behind.
With these robust measures in place, the Ministry of Women and Child Development is poised to make significant strides in enhancing the quality of life and opportunities for women and children across India.
