Parliamentary Panel Flags Funding Gaps, Pushes Reforms in Women & Child Welfare Schemes. 

New Delhi:

A Parliamentary Standing Committee headed by Digvijaya Singh has raised serious concerns over funding gaps, manpower shortages, and implementation bottlenecks in key schemes under the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), while presenting its 377th report on Demands for Grants for 2026–27.

The report, tabled in both Houses of Parliament, offers a comprehensive review of flagship missions and statutory bodies, including National Commission for Women, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, and Central Adoption Resource Authority.

Key Concerns: Budget Cuts and Underutilisation

The Committee sharply criticised the allocation of Rs. 36 crore to the National Commission for Women, calling it “grossly inadequate” for an apex body tasked with safeguarding women’s rights. It recommended a substantial increase to strengthen outreach, legal aid, and complaint redressal mechanisms.

It also flagged a broader trend of reduced allocations for flagship schemes, rejecting the Ministry’s claim that states were not utilising funds on time. Instead, the panel pointed to systemic issues like the Single Nodal Agency (SNA) mechanism potentially delaying fund flows, urging simplification of release norms and better coordination with states.

Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0: Progress with Gaps

While acknowledging increased funding under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, the Committee highlighted major operational challenges:

• Nutrition Quality Issues: Variations across states despite guidelines; cost norms deemed too low for uniform quality.
• Worker Welfare: Honorariums for Anganwadi Workers and Helpers remain “meagre” and pending revision.
• Vacancies: Over 33% of Child Development Project Officer posts remain unfilled, affecting oversight.
• Slow Infrastructure Growth: Only 132 Anganwadi-cum-Crèches added in nearly three years against a target of 17,000.

The panel called for urgent recruitment drives, cost revisions, and faster rollout of crèche facilities, especially in states with zero coverage.

Mission Shakti: One Stop Centres Need Overhaul

Reviewing Mission Shakti, the Committee found that One Stop Centres (OSCs) are functioning more as short-stay homes rather than integrated support hubs.

Key recommendations include:

• Embedding police and legal aid services within OSCs
• Expanding centres in high-population districts
• Introducing Migration Support Functions for working women
• Linking Women Helpline 181 to on-ground rescue teams

The Committee also stressed faster operationalisation of pending OSCs and better rehabilitation plans for survivors.

Women’s Workforce Participation: Policy Shift Suggested

The panel recommended expanding the scope of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao beyond education to include employment and entrepreneurship.

Suggestions include:

• National role model campaigns showcasing women in non-traditional jobs
• Gender Champion Awards for corporates
• Improved gender-disaggregated workforce data

Maternity and Care Economy: Beyond Welfare

The Committee praised allocations for Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana but urged integration with skilling, childcare, and return-to-work support to prevent women from dropping out of the workforce after childbirth.

It also highlighted the need to strengthen India’s “care economy” by investing in Anganwadi workers and expanding childcare infrastructure.

Child Protection: Structural Weaknesses

Under Mission Vatsalya, the Committee flagged:

• Uneven identification of vulnerable children across states
• Delays in digital adoption due to staffing shortages
• Continued operation of unregistered childcare institutions

It recommended a nationwide audit of childcare institutions and uniform compliance with statutory standards.

Statutory Bodies Face Severe Staff Shortages

The report highlighted alarming vacancy levels:

• Over 55% vacancies in the National Commission for Women
• Nearly 100% reliance on contractual staff in the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights
• Around 35% vacancies in the Central Adoption Resource Authority

The Committee stressed the need for permanent recruitment to ensure institutional continuity and accountability.

Nirbhaya Fund and Safe City Projects Under Scrutiny

The Committee expressed concern over underutilisation of the Nirbhaya Fund, noting that a significant portion remains unreleased due to procedural delays.

It also flagged slow progress in Safe City Projects in major urban centres, recommending quarterly audits and strict deadlines for technology deployment such as AI-based surveillance systems.

Way Forward

The Parliamentary panel called for:

• Enhanced funding across key institutions
• Simplified fund flow mechanisms
• Stronger monitoring and accountability systems
• Integration of welfare schemes with employment outcomes

The report underscores the need for a shift from welfare-centric approaches to empowerment-driven policies, particularly focusing on women’s workforce participation, child protection, and institutional strengthening.

The full report is available on the official Parliament website.