India and Sri Lanka Strengthen Cooperation on WCD During High-Level Delegation Visit

India and Sri Lanka have reinforced their commitment to deeper cooperation in women and child development following high-level bilateral discussions between Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smt. Annapurna Devi and a Sri Lankan delegation led by H.E. Mrs. Saroja Savithri Paulraj, Minister of Women and Child Affairs of Sri Lanka.

The meeting, held at the Ministry of Women and Child Development in New Delhi, formed part of an official study visit to India by members of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus of Sri Lanka, aimed at strengthening institutional collaboration and knowledge exchange between the two countries.

Officials described the visit as a reflection of the longstanding and close bilateral relationship between India and Sri Lanka, particularly in the areas of social development, women’s empowerment and child welfare.

Focus on Women-Led Development and Inclusive Growth

The discussions centred on expanding cooperation and sharing best practices in critical areas related to:

• Women-led development

• Gender equality

• Maternal and child welfare

• Women’s leadership in governance

• Care economy initiatives

• Social protection frameworks

• Technology-enabled welfare delivery

Both sides explored opportunities for deeper institutional collaboration to support inclusive growth and strengthen welfare systems for women and children.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development stated that the engagement reflects the shared commitment of both countries toward advancing social development under the guidance and leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

India Showcases Flagship Women and Child Welfare Programmes

During the interaction, the Sri Lankan delegation was briefed on several of India’s major programmes and policy initiatives focused on women’s empowerment and child welfare.

These included:

Mission Shakti

A flagship programme aimed at ensuring women’s safety, security and empowerment through integrated support systems and institutional mechanisms.

Mission Vatsalya

An initiative focused on child protection services, child welfare systems and support for vulnerable children.

Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0

A large-scale nutrition and early childhood development programme designed to strengthen nutritional outcomes, maternal health and Anganwadi service delivery systems.

Officials also highlighted how digital governance and technology-enabled systems are increasingly being integrated into welfare delivery mechanisms to improve efficiency, transparency and accessibility.

Digital Governance and Technology in Welfare Delivery

A key theme during the discussions was the growing use of technology in improving service delivery related to:

• Women’s safety

• Nutrition monitoring

• Child welfare

• Social protection systems

• Public service accessibility

• Welfare programme implementation

The Indian side explained how digital tools and governance platforms are being used to strengthen monitoring, improve accountability and ensure more targeted delivery of welfare services.

Policy experts say digital governance has become increasingly central to India’s welfare administration strategy, particularly in sectors linked to health, nutrition and social inclusion.

Annapurna Devi Highlights Women-Led Development Vision

Addressing the delegation, Union Minister Smt. Annapurna Devi reiterated that the Government of India has adopted a women-led development approach under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

She said the government recognises women not merely as beneficiaries of welfare schemes, but as equal partners and active stakeholders in India’s economic and social transformation.

“Under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Government of India has adopted a women-led development approach, recognising women as equal partners and active stakeholders in the nation’s growth and development journey,” the Minister said.

She further emphasised the government’s continued focus on strengthening institutional mechanisms and welfare frameworks to improve outcomes for women and children across the country.

Sri Lankan Delegation Praises India’s Welfare Initiatives

Sri Lanka’s Minister of Women and Child Affairs, H.E. Mrs. Saroja Savithri Paulraj, praised India’s initiatives aimed at advancing the empowerment and welfare of women and children.

She commended India’s holistic and inclusive approach toward women-led development and expressed interest in learning from India’s experiences and policy frameworks.

Officials said the Sri Lankan delegation particularly appreciated India’s integrated welfare delivery systems and the emphasis on combining social protection with digital governance tools.

The delegation’s visit is expected to contribute toward future cooperation and exchange of policy expertise between the two countries.

Strengthening Institutional Cooperation

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding institutional cooperation and promoting regular knowledge-sharing between the Ministries responsible for women and child development in India and Sri Lanka.

The discussions highlighted the importance of collaborative regional efforts to address shared social development challenges, including:

• Women’s economic empowerment

• Child nutrition

• Gender equality

• Social protection

• Capacity building

• Leadership development

• Inclusive governance

Officials said stronger cooperation could help both countries benefit from mutual learning and best practices in policy implementation.

India Expands Regional Social Development Partnerships

The meeting also reflects India’s broader efforts to deepen cooperation with neighbouring countries through developmental partnerships and social sector collaboration.

India has increasingly positioned women-led development and inclusive growth as central pillars of its domestic and international engagement strategies.

Experts say such bilateral exchanges are important for:

• Regional capacity building

• Policy innovation

• Institutional learning

• Strengthening social governance

• Promoting South-South cooperation

The interaction also reinforces India’s growing role as a regional knowledge partner in areas related to digital governance, social welfare and women’s empowerment.

Shared Commitment to Social Development

Officials from both countries emphasised the importance of continuing collaborative efforts to advance inclusive growth and social development objectives.

The meeting concluded with the exchange of mementos and a group photograph, symbolising the strengthening partnership between India and Sri Lanka in the field of women and child welfare.

As both nations continue to prioritise social inclusion and gender-responsive development, the engagement is expected to further strengthen bilateral ties and contribute toward more coordinated approaches to addressing shared developmental goals across the region.