Guwahati: The Directorate of Women & Child Development (WCD), Government of Assam, in partnership with ITC Limited, has launched a cascading training programme aimed at enhancing nutrition, early childhood care, education, and development services under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme.
The initiative is part of ITC’s flagship “Mission Sunehra Kal” and was inaugurated at the Assam Administrative Staff College, Khanapara.
The launch event began with a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony, followed by the formal welcome of dignitaries, including representatives from WCD, ITC, academic institutions, and subject experts.
This initiative marks the second phase of the project focusing on Early Childhood Care, Education, and Development (ECCED) and nutrition services across 11 districts in Assam.
ITC Limited, supported by YouthInvest Foundation and Vikramshila Education Resource Society, will lead the implementation of a structured framework to integrate and enhance service delivery.
The programme featured research insights presented by IIT Guwahati and real-world accounts from ICDS functionaries, highlighting ground-level challenges and solutions in early childhood interventions.
Senior officials from the National Rural Health Mission-Assam and the Samagra Shiksha Mission-Assam contributed strategic inputs during the event.
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A panel discussion with academicians from Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda and IGNOU’s School of Continuing Education further enriched the discussions.
The day concluded with the formulation of a collaborative action plan to build sustainable capacity among ICDS frontline workers.
This initiative underscores Assam’s commitment to improving child development outcomes, particularly during the critical first 1,000 days of life, through integrated and evidence-based approaches.
