Indore, June 15 (IANS) 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

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