TFP Bureau,Raipur, December 05,2025: The Chhattisgarh government has reported significant progress in women and child welfare over the past two years, with a series of targeted initiatives bringing measurable improvements in empowerment, health, nutrition, safety and social security. The achievements, driven by the state’s Women and Child Development Department, reflect a comprehensive approach aimed at improving quality of life while ensuring dignity, transparency and economic self-reliance for women and children.
Women Empowerment at the Core
A cornerstone of the state’s efforts has been the Mahtari Vandan Yojana, implemented from March 1, 2024. Under the scheme, as many as 69.32 lakh women have been receiving continuous financial assistance, with the government successfully disbursing ₹14,307 crore so far. Notably, surveys indicate that nearly 75 per cent of beneficiary women are independently deciding how to utilise the funds, highlighting increased financial autonomy. In addition, around 30,000 women have leveraged the scheme to access loans worth ₹73 crore for entrepreneurial and income-generating activities.
The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana has also made a strong impact in the state. Financial assistance of ₹237.44 crore has been provided to 4.81 lakh beneficiaries, earning Chhattisgarh the third position nationally in effective implementation. The introduction of OTP and Facial Recognition System (FRS) verification has significantly reduced duplication and fraud, ensuring benefits reach genuine recipients.
Visible Improvement in Health and Nutrition
The state has recorded a marked decline in child malnutrition between November 2023 and November 2025. Stunting levels dropped from 30.88 per cent to 24.99 per cent, wasting reduced from 10.38 per cent to 6.93 per cent, while the proportion of underweight children declined from 15.50 per cent to 13.61 per cent.
Under the supplementary nutrition programme, 19.64 lakh beneficiaries are being provided nutritious food, with nearly 90 per cent of distributions carried out transparently through the FRS system. From October 2025, new nutrition recipes such as Sweet Shakti Aahar and Savory Nutritious Dalia have been introduced. Production and supply responsibilities have been entrusted to 436 women self-help groups, creating livelihood opportunities alongside improved nutrition outcomes.
Strengthened Safety and Protection Mechanisms
Chhattisgarh has expanded its safety net for women and children through an extensive network of support services. A total of 34 Sakhi One Stop Centres are operational across 33 districts, providing assistance in 14,376 cases of violence and distress. The state has also earned distinction as the first in the country to develop a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for these centres.
The Women Helpline 181 has resolved 8,959 complaints and has been integrated with emergency services 112 and Child Helpline 1098 for faster response. The Child Helpline alone responded to over 1.02 lakh calls, successfully resolving 3,734 child-related cases. Child protection services have been further strengthened through 110 functional child care institutions and expanded sponsorship, foster care, after-care and adoption services. Juvenile Justice Boards and Child Welfare Committees have collectively disposed of 20,786 cases, while girls from the state have won the Prime Minister’s National Child Award for two consecutive years.
Modern Infrastructure and Good Governance
To strengthen grassroots delivery, 4,750 Anganwadi centres have been upgraded under the BaLA (Building as Learning Aid) concept, while approvals have been granted for 2,874 new Anganwadi buildings. Additionally, 5,814 mini Anganwadis have been upgraded into full-fledged centres. Human resources have also been reinforced with the appointment of 1,271 workers and 6,384 helpers.
Timely honorarium payments are being ensured through the Samman Suvidha System, with attendance recorded digitally via FRS. Recruitment has been made more transparent through an e-recruitment portal. In recognition of these reforms, the department received the Smart Governance Excellence Award 2025.
Social Welfare Initiatives
Under the Chief Minister Kanya Vivah Yojana, the state facilitated the marriages of 15,342 daughters, providing financial assistance of ₹50,000 per couple, easing the social and economic burden on families.
A Forward-Looking Vision
Officials said the cumulative impact of these initiatives has brought tangible improvements in the lives of women and children across Chhattisgarh. With empowerment, nutrition, protection and infrastructure forming the four pillars of policy, the state is steadily moving towards a more inclusive and secure future for its most vulnerable citizens.
