Empowerment, holistic development to help build Viksit Bharat@2047: WCD Minister
Indore, June 15
Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annpurna Devi said on Monday that, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government is continuously working towards the empowerment, protection and holistic development of women and children to achieve Viksit Bharat@2047.
Addressing a meeting to review training programmes of the Savitribai Phule National Institute of Women and Child Development (SPNIWCD), Western Regional Centre, Annpurna Devi said the Ministry's flagship schemes - Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0, Mission Shakti and Mission Vatsalya - are playing a vital role in the development of women and children.
During the review of the Institute's activities, the Union Minister was given a presentation on the regular training programmes, research studies, and the activities and progress of the Child Guidance Centre.
Valeti Premchand, Additional Secretary, MWCD & Director of the Institute, informed that the Advanced Diploma in Child Guidance and Counselling (ADCGC) programme, in collaboration with Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University of Social Sciences, will commence from July 2026. The course has been recognised by the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI).
The programme was attended by Savitri Thakur, Minister of State; Shankar Lalwani, Member of Parliament, Indore; senior officials of the Ministry; and officers and staff of the Regional Centre, Indore.
The Union Minister advised that regular feedback should be obtained from participants attending the Institute's training programmes.
She said this would also facilitate the identification of implementation challenges and areas requiring improvement, adding that feedback from trainees could be effectively utilised to make government policies and the Ministry's schemes and programmes more impactful, responsive and people-centric.
Regarding the Advanced Diploma in Child Guidance and Counselling (ADCGC) course, she stated that it would help build a cadre of trained psychosocial counsellors who would play an important role in the mental and emotional development of children.
Earlier, the programme commenced with a plantation drive under the "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" campaign inspired by PM Modi. In accordance with the concept of Panchvati, five saplings: Banyan, Peepal, Bael, Ashoka and Amla were planted in the Institute campus by the Union Minister and guests.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good to see the government taking child counselling seriously. The Advanced Diploma in Child Guidance is exactly what we need - so many kids struggle emotionally but there's no proper support system. Hope this gets implemented properly across states.
I appreciate the intent but execution matters more. We've seen many schemes launched but ground reality in tier-2 cities like Indore is still patchy. The feedback mechanism the minister mentioned is crucial - hope it's not just lip service. Still, steps in right direction. 👏
The plantation drive "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" is such a beautiful initiative! Planting Banyan, Peepal, Bael, Ashoka, and Amla - these trees have cultural and medicinal significance. Wish more government events had such thoughtful gestures. 🌳❤️
Positive step but we need more transparency on where the training program funds go. Also, the ADCGC course starting in 2026 - that's 2 years away! Why so long? Children need counsellors now, not after 2027 elections. 😐
Mission Shakti and Mission Vatsalya are doing great work in my district. Women in our self-help groups have become financially independent. But the real test is whether these benefits reach the poorest of the poor. Let's not get carried away by press releases.
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