On August 14, 2024, the Ministry of Women and Child Development of the Government of India held a special interactive session at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, to felicitate 161 field functionaries working in the area of women’s and children’s welfare across the country. These dedicated women, together with their counterparts, play a very important role in implementing various key schemes like Anganwadis, Sakhi One-Stop Centres, Sankalp Hubs for Empowerment of Women, Child Welfare Committees, and District Child Protection Units.
The occasion was graced by Minister of State for Women and Child Development Smt. Savitri Thakur, who highlighted the indomitable spirit of the women leading the nation toward a “Viksit Bharat,” the dream of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Thakur said, “Empowered women are the foundation of a strong nation. Through initiatives like Mission Shakti, Mission Poshan 2.0, and Mission Vatsalya, we are fortifying this foundation. Today, from Anganwadi workers to representatives of One-Stop Centers, every woman has set a new standard in driving societal change.”
The session started with an address by the Secretary of the Ministry, focusing on the critical role that grassroots efforts play in empowering women and securing child welfare. A short film was shown on the efforts made by these field functionaries to promote women-led development and child welfare at the community level.
It was also a chance for each of these invitees to visit some of the renowned landmarks across New Delhi, such as the Parliament and Pradhan Mantri Sangrahalaya. These women were specially invited as honored guests at the 78th Independence Day Ceremony to be held at the Red Fort on August 15.
Monika Sharma, working as a staffer at the HUB for Empowerment of Women in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, was equally happy. “I am proud and honoured to have been invited by the Government of India. It fills me with immense happiness to be part of this historic event and support Women-Led Development,” she said.
Savitri Devi, an Anganwadi worker from Jharkhand, expressed her happiness: “This is like a dream for me. It is with a deep sense of gratitude that I accept this award. The dream was in me since my childhood. My family is also very proud and happy about this recognition.”
The Ministry also felicitated 10 awardees of the Nari Shakti Puruskar, who were given an opportunity to display and interact with Smt. Savitri Thakur about their work. These ladies were recognized for their continued hard work and were felicitated by the Hon’ble Minister of State.
