Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the valedictory session of the two-day National Departmental Summit on Women and Child Development at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan on Friday evening, October 9.
The high-level conference—the second in a series of departmental summits envisioned by the Prime Minister to strengthen cooperative federalism—brought together Union Ministers, State Ministers, and senior administrative officials to align policy action across nutrition, child protection, women’s safety, and service delivery.
Reimagining Anganwadis Through Jan Bhagidari
Emphasizing the principle of Jan Bhagidari (public participation), Prime Minister Modi stressed that Anganwadi Centres must not function as isolated government institutions, but rather evolve into active hubs of community engagement.
”The children being nurtured in Anganwadi Centres today will become the youth and citizens who build Viksit Bharat,” the Prime Minister remarked, suggesting that neighboring families be encouraged to contribute nutritious food, toys, and educational materials during local celebrations.
Universities and Student Bodies to Adopt Anganwadi Centres
To deepen institutional engagement, PM Modi proposed a framework under which universities and higher educational institutions adopt nearby Anganwadi Centres:
- Academic Research: Conducting social-impact assessments and field research to generate actionable insights for improving grassroots service delivery.
- Youth Engagement: Integrating medical students alongside National Service Scheme (NSS) and National Cadet Corps (NCC) volunteers into community nutrition and healthcare initiatives.
- Adolescent Focus: Expanding targeted programs focused on the health, nutrition, and holistic development of adolescent girls.
Cross-Departmental Convergence for Women’s Safety
Addressing issues concerning women’s safety and dignity, the Prime Minister advocated for age-appropriate educational modules for children and called for seamless convergence across various enforcement and administrative departments to strengthen preventive safeguards.
He further highlighted the intrinsic link between cleanliness, health, and nutrition, calling on Women and Child Development departments across all states to take active ownership of the Swachhata Abhiyan. Additionally, he urged the integration of women’s self-help groups and community collectives into national campaigns like Vocal for Local and One District One Product (ODOP) to drive sustainable economic empowerment.
To translate these national strategies into ground-level action, PM Modi encouraged states to replicate the summit model by organizing dedicated Chintan Shivirs at the district, municipal, and Anganwadi worker levels.
