The Women and Child Development Department (WCD) was established in 1994-95 to promote the overall development of children and women through various schemes and programs. The department's primary objective is to empower and entitle children, women, and adolescents, while strengthening the Decentralized Feeding Programme of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS). The department's activities are centred on promoting social and economic empowerment of women through cross-cutting policies and programs, including mainstreaming gender concerns, creating awareness about their rights, and facilitating institutional and legislative support to enable them to realize their human rights and develop to their full potential.
The WCD department aims to ensure a safe and conducive environment for all children through the prevention and response to child abuse, exploitation, and neglect. It provides development, care, and protection of children through cross-cutting policies and programs, spreading awareness about their rights, access to learning, nutrition, and institutional support.
To achieve these objectives, the department formulates necessary policies, programs, and schemes and coordinates the efforts of both governmental and non-governmental organizations working in the field of women and children.
The department implements developmental programs, conducts evaluations, and monitors progress to ensure the effective implementation of these initiatives. In addition to the ICDS scheme, the WCD department has been implementing other initiatives aimed at promoting the development and well-being of children and women, including programs focused on maternal and child health, girl primary education, nutrition and health education.
