Review meeting of the Department of Women, Child Development and Social Security held under the chairmanship of CM Hemant Soren

★ Child marriage and similar social evils must be stopped at all costs
★ Model Anganwadi centres to be developed in mission mode
★ Women to be made aware about the use of Sakhi One Stop Centres

Ranchi, May 2027 : Chief Minister Hemant Soren today reviewed the updated progress of the Department of Women, Child Development and Social Security at Jharkhand Secretariat and gave several important directions to officials. The Chief Minister said that the benefits of development schemes and programmes run by the department must reach the last person in society by accelerating their implementation.

The Chief Minister directed that full utilisation of both central and state budget allocations of the department should be ensured and direct benefits of schemes should reach the needy. He also instructed that recruitment processes for filling vacant posts under the Department of Women, Child Development and Social Security should be expedited.

Officials informed the Chief Minister that under the department, 106 posts of CDPO, 433 posts of women supervisors, 583 posts of Anganwadi Sevika, and 897 posts of Anganwadi Sahayika are vacant and recruitment is to be done for these posts.

Model Anganwadi centres to be developed in mission mode

The Chief Minister reviewed the basic infrastructure of Anganwadi centres and directed that model Anganwadi centres should be established in mission mode within the state.

For construction of Anganwadi centres, CSR and DMFT funds should be utilised, and Anganwadi centres operating in dilapidated and rented buildings should be shifted. Special focus should be given to rural areas to strengthen infrastructure.

The state government’s vision is that maximum Anganwadi centres should operate in their own buildings. The Chief Minister said that electricity, toilets and drinking water facilities must be ensured in all Anganwadi centres.

Officials informed that Anganwadi centres operating in rented buildings are also being shifted to government school premises. This will provide children with a better educational environment and have a positive impact on them.

Women to be made aware about Sakhi One Stop Centres

Officials informed that under the Poshan Abhiyan scheme, mobile phones have been provided to Anganwadi workers and daily activities are being uploaded through the Poshan Tracker portal, which has improved monitoring.

Reviewing the Sakhi One Stop Centres, the Chief Minister directed that women must be made aware about their use and that support should be provided to women affected by various forms of violence. These centres should also be linked with local police administration.

He also said that awareness about the women’s helpline number should be increased and complaints received on this number must be resolved promptly.

Child marriage must be stopped at all costs

Chief Minister Shri Hemant Soren said that child marriage must be stopped under all circumstances. Districts like Giridih, Deoghar, and Jamtara are witnessing higher cases, and awareness campaigns must be conducted there.

People should be informed about strict legal action against those involved in promoting child marriage. Awareness should also be spread through audio-video media and social media platforms.

Students in schools and colleges, especially girls, as well as the general public should be made aware. He suggested that courageous girls who oppose child marriage should be made brand ambassadors/volunteers to spread awareness and help stop this social evil.

Inclusion of eligible beneficiaries in pension schemes

The Chief Minister reviewed the Mukhyamantri Sarvajan Pension Yojana and directed that eligible people within the prescribed age group must be ensured pension benefits.

He also reviewed the Jharkhand Mukhyamantri Maiyan Samman Yojana and instructed that eligible left-out beneficiaries should be included in the scheme.

Review of other schemes

The Chief Minister also reviewed several schemes including:

• Mukhyamantri Kishori Kalyan Yojana / Savitri Bai Phule Kishori Samriddhi Yojana
• Mukhyamantri Kanyadan Yojana
• State Widow Remarriage Incentive Scheme
• Disabled Welfare Scheme
• Divyang Scholarship Scheme and provision of assistive devices for disabled persons

He gave necessary directions to officials regarding their implementation.

Officials present in the meeting

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Shri Avinash Kumar, Development Commissioner Shri Arun Kumar Singh, Secretary of Women, Child Development and Social Security Department Shri Uma Shankar Singh, Director Social Welfare Smt. Kiran Kumar Pasi, Additional Secretary WCD Department Shri Abhay Nandan Ambasht, Director ICPS Shri Vijay Kumar Sinha, along with other officials.

#Team PRD (CMO)