Minister Laxmi Rajwade Chairs Departmental Review Meeting

Strict directives issued for effective implementation of schemes, eradication of malnutrition, and systematic functioning of Anganwadi centers

Raipur, Sept 2025 : Minister for Women & Child Development and Social Welfare, Smt. Laxmi Rajwade, chaired a departmental review meeting at the Joint District Office conference hall in Balrampur. During the meeting, she conducted a detailed review of the schemes being run under the Women & Child Development and Social Welfare Departments and instructed officials to ensure effective implementation at the grassroots level along with continuous monitoring.

Emphasizing wide publicity of the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, the Minister directed that eligible beneficiaries must receive the scheme’s benefits on time and with transparency. Under the Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Yojana, she instructed that needy families should be prioritized for assistance. Stressing on the prevention of child marriage, she said that adolescent girls should be made aware of its harmful consequences so that the state can achieve the goal of becoming child marriage-free.

On the functioning of Anganwadi centers, the Minister directed that centers should open on time, special attention be given to children’s attendance and the quality of nutritional meals, and that cleanliness, teaching arrangements, nutrition gardens, and the distribution of ready-to-eat food be closely monitored. Giving special focus to malnutrition eradication, she instructed smooth operation of NRC (Nutritional Rehabilitation Centers) and regular supply of balanced meals to malnourished children.

Smt. Rajwade further directed that construction of Anganwadi buildings under the Pradhan Mantri Janman initiative should be completed quickly while ensuring quality standards. She emphasized that recruitment for vacant posts must be carried out in a transparent manner and Anganwadi centers should be regularly monitored.

Highlighting women’s empowerment, she reviewed the Saksham Yojana and instructed that women should be linked to self-employment and entrepreneurship opportunities. She also called for raising awareness at the gram panchayat level to curb domestic violence.

The review also covered the progress of programs such as Mahatari Vandana Yojana, Childline, Juvenile Justice Board, Child Welfare Committee, and Sakhi One Stop Centers. During the Social Welfare Department’s review, the Minister directed that beneficiaries of pension schemes must receive their benefits on time and that vacant posts in the department should be filled at the earliest.

The meeting was attended by Director of Social Welfare Department Smt. Roktima Yadav, Balrampur Collector Shri Rajendra Katara, Superintendent of Police Shri Vaibhav Banker Ramanlal, Women & Child Development Officer Smt. Vismita Patle, In-charge Deputy Director of Social Welfare Department Ms. Stella Khalkho, along with senior officials and staff.