Parliamentary Panel Flags Fund Gaps, Vacancies and Slow Rollout in Women and Child Schemes

New Delhi: A parliamentary standing committee has raised serious concerns over funding gaps, manpower shortages and implementation delays across key schemes of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, calling for urgent corrective measures to strengthen delivery on the ground.

The 377th report of the department-related parliamentary standing committee, chaired by Digvijaya Singh, pointed out that budget allocation for the National Commission for Women (NCW) remains inadequate at ₹36 crore for 2026–27. The panel said the commission, as the apex statutory body for women’s rights, requires significantly higher funding to effectively discharge its mandate, particularly for vulnerable groups.

The committee also flagged a reduction in allocations for several flagship schemes and questioned the ministry’s explanation that states were not drawing funds on time. It suggested that procedural bottlenecks, including the Single Nodal Agency system, may be restricting fund flow and recommended simplification of release norms to ensure timely utilisation.

On the flagship Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 programme, the panel acknowledged increased allocations but highlighted serious operational concerns. It pointed to uneven quality of food across states, low cost norms, and persistent complaints from anganwadi workers over low honorarium and lack of job security. The committee urged the government to revise cost norms and increase wages, noting that fair compensation is essential given the expanded responsibilities of frontline workers.

A major concern flagged in the report is the shortage of field-level staff. Nearly one-third of Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) posts – 2,348 out of 7,075 – remain vacant, weakening programme monitoring and implementation. The panel recommended an urgent review of sanctioned strength and expedited recruitment to fill these gaps.

The report also highlighted slow progress in expanding childcare infrastructure. Against a target of 17,000 Anganwadi-cum-Crèche Centres, only 132 new centres have been added over nearly three years, indicating significant delays. The committee called for fast-track approvals and targeted interventions in states with zero coverage.

Under Mission Shakti, the panel observed that One Stop Centres (OSCs) are not functioning as intended and have largely become short-stay homes rather than integrated support centres. It recommended embedding police and legal services within these centres and improving staffing based on case load. It also noted that only 896 out of 1,025 sanctioned OSCs are operational and urged faster rollout.

The committee raised concerns over underutilisation of the Nirbhaya Fund, pointing out that while ₹8,212 crore has been allocated since inception, only ₹6,581 crore has been released. Delays linked to compliance issues and documentation gaps were cited as key reasons, prompting a recommendation for a dedicated support mechanism to assist states in fund utilisation.

The panel also emphasised the need to expand the scope of schemes such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao beyond education to include workforce participation, suggesting initiatives like role model programmes, gender diversity recognition for corporates and sectoral partnerships to improve women’s employment outcomes.

In the area of child protection, the committee flagged inconsistencies in reporting and gaps in institutional capacity. It called for a national audit of childcare institutions and better integration of digital platforms for real-time monitoring of child rehabilitation.

Overall, the report underscores structural challenges in fund flow, staffing and execution across key welfare programmes. The committee stressed that without addressing these issues, the objectives of women and child development schemes may not be fully realised, despite increased policy focus and allocations.