🏛️ Description
The Ministry of Women & Child Development is the nodal ministry of the Government of India for advancing women’s rights, child development, nutrition, protection, and overall well-being. It frames policies, runs national missions, and partners with States/UTs, civil society, and development agencies to ensure safety, dignity, nutrition security, education, and economic empowerment for women and children.
🎯 Mandate
- Policy, legislation, and programmes for women’s empowerment and child rights & protection.
- Lead national nutrition initiatives and early childhood care through Anganwadi systems.
- Prevent trafficking, violence, and discrimination; provide support, shelter, legal and counselling services.
- Enable financial inclusion, skilling, and entrepreneurship for women and adolescent girls.
- Strengthen adoption, foster care, and child-care standards; regulate and monitor child protection institutions.
- Drive data, digital platforms, and community participation for transparency and outcomes.
🌐 Official Website
🏢 Offices & Contacts
Headquarters:
Ministry of Women & Child Development (MWCD)
Shastri Bhawan, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road,
New Delhi – 110001, India
Telephone (Board line): +91-11-2338-XXXX (see website directory for latest extensions)
Email: secy-wcd@nic.in
Website: wcd.nic.in
🏗️ Departments, Bodies & Key Organisations
- National Commission for Women (NCW): Statutory body for women’s rights — ncw.nic.in
- National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR): Child rights oversight — ncpcr.gov.in
- Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA): Adoption & foster care — cara.nic.in
- NIPCCD: Training & research in women/child development — nipccd.nic.in
- Childline 1098: 24×7 helpline & child protection services — childlineindia.org
👶🍲 Nutrition, ECCE & Child Development
- Saksham Anganwadi & POSHAN 2.0: (ICDS, POSHAN Abhiyaan, and Supplementary Nutrition integrated) — growth monitoring, take-home rations, ECCE, Jan Andolan.
- Mission Vatsalya: Child protection services; child care institutions, sponsorship, after-care — info
- Mid-day convergence: Health, immunization, and early learning through Anganwadi–school linkages.
🛡️ Safety, Support & Empowerment
- Mission Shakti (umbrella): Sambal (safety & protection: One Stop Centres, Women Helpline 181, Nirbhar Nari etc.) and Samarthya (empowerment: PM Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), creches PALNA, gender budgeting).
- Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP): Girl-child survival, protection & education.
- Ujjawala & Swadhar Greh: Anti-trafficking, rescue, rehabilitation; shelter & support services for women in distress.
- Mahila Police Volunteers / Safe City projects: Community vigilance and urban safety (with States/ULBs).
📲 Key Portals & Tools
- POSHAN Tracker: Growth monitoring & service delivery for Anganwadis.
- CARINGS (CARA): Adoption management system — cara.nic.in
- Nari Portal: Schemes, services & grievance links — nari.nic.in
- Women Helpline 181 & Childline 1098 — nationwide emergency assistance.