Delhi, 2 July (H.S.): The National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD) has been renamed the Savitribai Phule National Institute of Women and Child Development, emphasizing its commitment to the development of women and children in India. This change reflects a focus on region-specific, mission-driven support led by Union Minister Annpurna Devi. A new Regional Centre will be inaugurated in Ranchi, Jharkhand, on July 4, 2025, aimed at enhancing outreach and capacity building, especially for the eastern region encompassing Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, and West Bengal. This centre will address training needs for flagship programs such as Mission Shakti, Mission Vatsalya, and Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0.

Previously, training was offered through distant Regional Centres in Guwahati and Lucknow, which posed logistical challenges. The Ranchi Centre will provide easier access to training and research, including an Advanced Diploma in Child Guidance and Counselling for over seven lakh functionaries operating in 115 districts across the four states. Smt. Annpurna Devi highlighted that the renaming is a tribute to social reformer Savitribai Phule and underscores the importance of decentralized, region-specific capacity building.

The new centre aims to empower frontline functionaries by facilitating better training access, identifying local issues, and customizing interventions that foster women's empowerment and child welfare. The initiative supports research, counseling, and activities related to child development and adolescent well-being, demonstrating the Ministry's dedication to efficient service delivery and the creation of an inclusive, healthier India. The NIPCCD, now with its enhanced identity and responsibilities, continues to be the apex body for training, research, documentation, and capacity building in Women and Child Development, with existing regional centres in various locations.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar