Mapping The Ministry Of Women And Child Development: Policies And Schemes

Policy Update
Srishtistuti Roy

History

The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) in India is the apex government institution dedicated to the holistic development of women and children. Established as an independent ministry in 2006, its foundation reflects a progressive evolution in India’s policy approach towards addressing gender and child welfare issues. The Ministry’s roots trace back to earlier national bodies that focused on women’s and children’s welfare, originally functioning as a Department within the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) before gaining autonomy. The Ministry was constituted with the primary objective of addressing gaps in State action for women and children along with promoting inter-ministerial and inter-sectoral convergence for the development of gender equitable and child-centric legislations, policies and programmes.

Presently, the Ministry is headed by Smt. Annapurna Devi, with Smt. Savitri Thakur serving as the Minister of State, and Anil Malik holding the position of Secretary.

Mandate

The mandate of the MWCD is to foster the holistic development of women and children by:

Empowering women to lead dignified lives and participate as equal contributors in development within environments free from violence and discrimination;
Advancing socio-economic empowerment of women through integrated policies and programs, promoting gender mainstreaming, undertaking gender budgeting, raising awareness about their rights, and providing institutional as well as legislative support to enable them to exercise their human rights and reach their full potential;
Ensuring that children are accorded full and equitable opportunities for growth within safe and nurturing environments;
Facilitating access to education, nutrition, and institutional as well as legislative frameworks for the development and well-being of children.

The MWCD aligns its programmatic initiatives with the objectives set forth by key international frameworks, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and the Beijing Declaration. The Ministry is further tasked with advancing several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 5 (Gender Equality). Additionally, the MWCD collaborates extensively with international organizations such as UNDP, UNICEF, UN Women, WHO, and the World Bank to support the development and implementation of policies, provide technical expertise, and secure funding.

Institutes

The Ministry operates with four autonomous bodies under its aegis: the National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD), the National Commission for Women (NCW), the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), and the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA). These organizations, funded by the Government of India, provide essential support to the Ministry in executing its mandate, particularly in capacity-building initiatives and the enforcement of legal frameworks.

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Figure: Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) Policies and Schemes 2024

Policies and Schemes

Mission Shakti: It is the flagship program of the MWCD, dedicated to advancing the safety, security, and empowerment of women. As an umbrella scheme with an integrated approach, Mission Shakti aims to strengthen interventions for the upliftment of women and girls through structured institutional frameworks and convergence mechanisms. Scheduled for implementation from 2021-22 to 2025-26, the program embodies the Government’s vision of women-led development, addressing issues impacting women across their life-cycle and facilitating their roles as equal contributors in nation-building. The Mission seeks to realize these goals through inter-ministerial and inter-departmental collaboration, as well as through the active involvement of various levels of governance, including Panchayati Raj Institutions and other local self-governance bodies, with robust community engagement. It also emphasizes strengthening digital infrastructure for efficient tracking of service delivery at the grassroots level. Mission Shakti consists of two key sub-schemes: Sambal, which focuses on women’s safety and security, and Samarthya, which is dedicated to women’s empowerment.

Policies under the Sambal subscheme of Mission Shakti:

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP): Launched by the Government of India in 2015, the BBBP initiative is jointly administered by the MWCD, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), and the Ministry of Education (MoE). The scheme was introduced to address the declining child sex ratio (CSR) and to promote the education and welfare of girls. It is a nationwide campaign focusing on advocacy and community mobilization to counter gender discrimination and encourage societal and institutional support for girls’ rights. The initiative operates on a multilayered approach that includes advocacy through mass media awareness campaigns and identification of regions with low CSR to align interventions with local needs. The Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY), a savings scheme for girls that offers tax benefits on deposits and interests, was also launched under the Ministry of Finance as part of the BBBP initiative to incentivise the education of girls. The initiative also focuses on providing digital and financial literacy, career counseling and vocational training. Despite the BBBP’s ambitious scope, recent audits have revealed underutilisation of allocated funds and inconsistent implementation across regions.
One Stop Centres (OSCs): Launched in 2015, OSCs intend to support women affected by violence or in distress. They offer a range of integrated services, including legal assistance, medical aid, psycho-social counseling, information on available resources and temporary shelter to affected women. It is implemented by the States and UTs through the Nirbhaya Fund.
Women Helpline (181-WHL): An emergency and non-emergency response system is accessible to women in distress or affected by violence via the toll-free shortcode 181. It is being universalised by integrating it with the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS 112) and other existing helplines and institutions. The WHL also provides information about various schemes/ projects/ programmes to assist women in availing the benefits. This scheme is also implemented through the Nirbhaya Fund.
Nari Adalats: After discontinuing the Parivarik Mahila Lok Adalats in 2015, the MWCD introduced the Nari Adalat, a women-only court system, in 2022. It aims to provide an alternative grievance redressal mechanism for resolving issues related to harassment, subversion, and the curtailment of rights or entitlements. Composed of socially active women who serve as advisors and leaders, Nari Adalats aim to strengthen women’s leadership within communities. The scheme has been piloted in Assam and Jammu & Kashmir so far.

Policies under the Samarthya subscheme of Mission Shakti:

Shakti Sadan: The erstwhile schemes of Swadhar Greh for Women in Difficult Circumstances and Ujjawala Homes for Prevention of Trafficking have been merged and renamed as Shakti Sadan, which is an integrated relief and rehabilitation home for women in distress including trafficked women. The initiative aims to provide a safe and supportive environment to help women overcome their challenges and rebuild their lives. Residents are provided with shelter, food, clothing, counseling, primary healthcare, and other daily necessities. They also receive vocational training, assistance with opening bank accounts, and access to social security benefits. Additionally, there is a provision for repatriation and reintegration support with an annual reward of ₹2,50,000, and ₹500 per month is deposited into Jan Dhan Accounts, non-withdrawable during their stay. Shakti Sadans may also cater to women with disabilities in collaboration with relevant departments.
Sakhi Niwas: The Working Women Hostel known as Sakhi Niwas aims to promote the availability of safe and conveniently located accommodation for working women who may be single, widowed, divorced, separated, or married but whose husband or immediate family does not reside in the same area and for those women who are under training for a job or are pursuing higher education. Additionally, the provision of daycare centers for children of the residents is another important aspect of the scheme.
Palna Ghar: The erstwhile National Creche Scheme has been revamped into the Palna Ghar scheme to provide daycare facilities to children of working mothers. It aims to establish 170 standalone creches and 17000 Anganwadi-cum-Creches pan India by FY 2025-26. Apart from day care facilities, the scheme aims to provide an integrated package of other services including early childhood education for children below three years, education for children between three and six years, supplementary nutrition, growth monitoring, health checkup, and immunization.
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY): It is a maternity benefit scheme launched by the Government of India in 2017 with the objective of providing financial assistance to pregnant and lactating women to improve their health and nutrition during pregnancy and childbirth. The scheme aims to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates by promoting maternal health and empowering women through cash incentives for institutional deliveries. Under PMMVY, eligible women receive a cash transfer of ₹5,000 in three installments, provided they register their pregnancy at an early stage, undergo antenatal checkups, and agree to deliver at public hospitals. The scheme’s objectives are aligned with the broader targets under SDG 3.
Hub for Empowerment of Women (HEW): Recognising the need for a single window system for inter-sectoral convergence of schemes and programs meant for women, the Government is setting up Hub for Empowerment of Women (HEW) at the National, State and District levels. The Hub aims to provide women with access to services and information on healthcare, education, career and vocational counseling, financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, social security, and digital literacy.
Mission Poshan 2.0: Also known as Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, this initiative, launched in 2021, serves as the flagship program aimed at addressing nutritional needs and combating malnutrition among children, adolescent girls, and pregnant and lactating mothers. The Mission consolidates three schemes under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS): Poshan Abhiyan, Anganwadi Services, and the Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG). Poshan 2.0 also emphasizes maternal nutrition, adherence to infant and young child feeding norms, and wellness through AYUSH practices to reduce the prevalence of wasting, underweight, stunting, and anemia. This effort is supported by the Poshan Tracker, a new centralized ICT data system for effective monitoring and implementation. The Mission’s overarching goals are aligned with various targets under SDG 2.
Poshan Abhiyaan: The erstwhile National Nutrition Mission was subsumed by the PM’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nourishment (POSHAN) Abhiyaan in 2018. The policy was revamped as Poshan 2.0 in Budget 2021-22. Key components of the scheme include the use of technology, inter-departmental convergence, and behavior change communication through Jan Andolan. A central element of the initiative for ensuring proper nutrition is the establishment of Poshan Vatikas or Nutri-gardens nationwide, aimed at providing communities with accessible and affordable fruits, vegetables, medicinal plants, and herbs.
Anganwadi Services: The Anganwadi Services, which have been running since 1975, is a flagship program of the Government of India and one of the world’s largest initiatives for early childhood care and development. It reflects India’s commitment to supporting young children and nursing mothers by providing pre-school education and addressing malnutrition, morbidity, reduced learning capacity, and mortality. The beneficiaries under this scheme include children aged 6 months to 6 years, as well as pregnant and lactating mothers. Under Mission Saksham Anganwadi, the Ministry seeks to enhance Anganwadi infrastructure by incorporating modern technologies and improving incentives for Anganwadi workers. Additionally, the component ‘Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi’ realigns nutritional services with early childhood care and education (ECCE).
Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG): To ensure the well-being of adolescent girls, the Government launched the Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG) in 2010 to provide nutritional as well as non-nutritional support. The scheme’s targeted beneficiaries were out-of-school adolescent girls (AGs) in the age group of 11-14 years. However, in 2022 the Scheme was revised to target AGs in the age group of 14-18 years. The program now offers a comprehensive package of services, including nutritional support, iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation, health check-ups and referral services, and nutrition and health education (NHE). It also assists out-of-school girls in rejoining formal education and provides life skills education and counseling to support their overall development.
Mission Vatsalya: In 2009-10, the Programme for Juvenile Justice, the Integrated Programme for Street Children, and the Shishu Greh Scheme were consolidated into the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS), which was later renamed the Child Protection Services (CPS) Scheme in 2017. Since 2021-22, the CPS has been subsumed under Mission Vatsalya, which provides preventive, statutory care, and rehabilitation services for children in need of care and protection (CNCP) and children in conflict with the law (CCL), as per the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. The scheme collaborates with statutory bodies such as Child Welfare Committees (CWC), Juvenile Justice Boards (JJB) and Special Juvenile Police Units (SJPU) for service delivery. It also coordinates with institutional structures such as homes, adoption agencies and open shelters; and provides non-institutional care such as foster care and sponsorship to vulnerable children. The scheme further supports the reintegration of children transitioning out of Child Care Institutes (CCIs) into mainstream society by providing financial assistance until they reach 21 to 23 years of age, aiding them in becoming self-reliant.
PM CARES for Children: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the PM CARES for Children scheme in May 2021 to support children who were orphaned due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The scheme aims to provide comprehensive care and protection for these children, ensuring their well-being through health insurance, empowering them through education, and offering financial support until the age of 23 to help them lead self-sufficient lives. The scheme provides financial assistance to beneficiaries for boarding, lodging, and education through post office accounts and Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) cards. Though the scheme is still active, it has recently come under fire for mass rejection of claims.
Internship Scheme: The MWCD’s internship program is for women students, scholars, social activists, and teachers. The program provides exposure to the MWCD’s mandate and allows participants to work on pilot projects and micro-studies. However, the scheme has been delivered inconsistently and many applicants have encountered difficulties in accessing the registration portal.

Additional Resources

MWCD, GOI. Annual Reports.
MWCD, GOI. Annual Report 2022-23.
PIB (2024). Year End Review-2023: Ministry of Women and Child Development.
NITI Ayog (2017). Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Targets, Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS), Interventions, Nodal and other Ministries.
MWCD, GOI. Mission Shakti.
MWCD, GOI. Sambal & Samarthya.
PIB (2022). Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme
PIB (2024). Empowering Futures: Celebrating International Daughter’s Day with the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana.
PIB (2022). ONE STOP CENTRE.
PIB (2024). Women Helpline.
PIB (2022). Nari Adalat.
MWCD, GOI. Shakti Sadan.
PIB (2023). Shakti Sadan.
MWCD, GOI. Sakhi Niwas.
PIB (2023). Working Women’s Hostel.
MWCD, GOI. Palna Ghar.
PIB (2023). Palna Scheme.
MWCD, GOI. PMMVY.
PIB (2024). Financial support for pregnant and lactating mothers through Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana.
MWCD, GOI. SANKALP: HEW.
PIB (2022). Government is setting up Hub for Empowerment of Women (HEW) at National, State and District levels under ‘Samarthya’ sub-scheme of ‘Mission Shakti”
MWCD, GOI. Mission Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0.
PIB (2023). MISSION POSHAN 2.0.
PIB (2023). POSHAN Abhiyaan.
PIB (2023). Anganwadi Services under Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0.
PIB (2022). Scheme For Adolescent Girls.
MWCD, GOI. Mission Vatsalya.
MWCD, Office of Joint Secretary, GOI (2022). Mission Vatsalya.
MWCD, GOI. PM CARES for Children.
MWCD, GOI. Internship Scheme.

About the Contributor: Srishtistuti Roy is a researcher at IMPRI, New Delhi. She is an alumna of the Department of International Relations at Jadavpur University. She has recently completed her postgrad in Gender Studies from the University of North Bengal and hopes to pursue a doctorate soon. Her research interests include South Asian political economy, gender & identity politics, development discourse and sustainability, contemporary social movements, and cultural studies.

Acknowledgements: The author expresses her gratitude to Dr. Arjun Kumar and other collaborators at IMPRI for peer-reviewing this article.