Full Breakdown
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Calls for Community-Driven Anganwadi Model at Women and Child Development Summit
By Drooid · · How we work
Summit Overview and Key Outcomes
On October 9 in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the valedictory session of the two-day National Departmental Summit on Women and Child Development, held at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan. The summit, part of a series of departmental summits envisioned by the Prime Minister, convened ministers and senior officials from states and Union Territories to deliberate on nutrition, early-childhood care, child protection, women’s safety and empowerment, and service delivery convergence.
Community Participation and Anganwadi Centres
Emphasising the principle of Jan Bhagidari, the Prime Minister urged that Anganwadi Centres should evolve from isolated institutions into hubs of community participation. He proposed that families surrounding Anganwadi Centres contribute on special occasions by providing nutritious food, toys and locally relevant items for children. Dedicated “Chintan Shivirs” for Anganwadi workers were recommended to enable exchange of field-level innovations and solutions.
Focus on Adolescent Girls’ Health and Safety
Prime Minister Modi highlighted the need for greater attention to the health, nutrition and overall development of adolescent girls. He advocated the creation of age-appropriate modules for children covering women’s safety, dignity and empowerment, stressing preventive action through inter-departmental convergence.
University and Volunteer Engagement
The Prime Minister called for deeper involvement of universities and educational institutions with Anganwadi Centres. He suggested that universities adopt nearby Anganwadi Centres to conduct social-impact studies, offering students practical experience while generating insights to improve service delivery. Medical students, as well as National Service Scheme (NSS) and National Cadet Corps (NCC) volunteers, were also encouraged to associate with Anganwadi initiatives.
Official Statements & Responses
Prime Minister Modi reiterated that good health and nutrition begin with cleanliness, positioning Anganwadi Centres and their surrounding communities as platforms for promoting behavioural change. He linked national movements such as Vocal for Local and One District One Product (ODOP) to women’s empowerment, noting that women’s collectives and community institutions could partner to strengthen local products, livelihoods and economic empowerment.
Women and Child Development Minister Annpurna Devi affirmed the government’s commitment, stating that under the Prime Minister’s visionary leadership, the focus remains on strengthening Centre-state coordination for women’s empowerment, child welfare, nutrition, safety and holistic development.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, our focus remains on strengthening Centre-state coordination for women’s empowerment, child welfare, nutrition, safety, and holistic development.” — Development Minister Annpurna Devi, child development minister
Why It Matters
By positioning Anganwadi Centres as community hubs and integrating academic and volunteer resources, the government aims to enhance service delivery, foster local ownership of health and nutrition outcomes, and empower adolescent girls. The emphasis on collaborative decision-making between the Centre and states seeks to streamline implementation of safety and empowerment initiatives across the nation.
What’s Next
The Prime Minister encouraged states to replicate the summit model by organising Chintan Shivirs at district, municipal and metropolitan levels, and to establish dedicated forums for Anganwadi workers to share best practices.