A review meeting on the schemes and activities of the Social Welfare and Women’s Rights Department was held yesterday (June 15, 2026) at the Secretariat under the chairmanship of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay.
During the meeting, detailed presentations were made on the functioning of the Social Welfare Department, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), and the Department of Children Welfare and Special Services. Discussions focused on welfare homes, social welfare schemes, legal protection measures, nutrition centres, and child care centres being operated for the benefit of children, women, transgender persons, and senior citizens.
The meeting also reviewed welfare initiatives proposed under the “Vetri Tamilagam” (Victorious Tamil Nadu) Vision Document, along with the financial allocations required for implementing department-related projects.
Officials presented updates on:
- The functioning of One Stop Centres for women.
- Adoption centres.
- Helplines for women, children, and senior citizens.
- Child nutrition and meal programmes.
- Anganwadi centre operations.
- Morning and noon meal schemes for children.
The Chief Minister directed officials to ensure that welfare benefits reach children, women, transgender persons, and senior citizens quickly and without any obstacles. He also stressed the importance of child protection measures, creating awareness among children about the dangers of drug abuse, and implementing rehabilitation programmes for children affected by substance addiction.
A key announcement during the meeting was the proposed expansion of the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme to students studying in Classes 6 to 8. The Chief Minister instructed officials to take steps to launch the first phase of the expanded scheme on September 17, the birth anniversary of Periyar E. V. Ramasamy.
The meeting was attended by Social Welfare and Women’s Rights Minister K. Jegatheeswari, Chief Secretary Dr. M. Saikumar, Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) M.A. Siddique, Social Welfare and Women’s Rights Department Secretary M. Pallavi Baldev, Director (Additional Charge) of the Department of Children Welfare and Special Services Shilpa Prabhakar Satish, Director of Social Welfare Maheswari Ravikumar, Additional Secretary S. Valarmathi, Director and Group Director of Integrated Child Development Services I.S.. Mercy Ramya, and other senior government officials.