About Us

The Social Welfare Department was constituted as an independent Directorate in 1974 and deals with human resource development. It caters to the special needs of marginalised groups and aims at the social and economic development of women, children, persons with disabilities and juveniles in the State, working in partnership with non-governmental organisations.

The Department implements schemes of four Ministries of the Government of India: Women and Child Development, Social Justice and Empowerment, Tribal Affairs and Minority Affairs.

Schemes and programmes

Ministry of Women and Child Development

• Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)
• Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS)
• Swadhar Greh, a scheme for women in difficult circumstances
• One Stop Centre for Women
• Women Helpline 181

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

• Disability Sector
• Welfare of the aged and infirm
• Anti-drug programmes
• Senior Citizen Helpline
• Welfare of Scheduled Castes

Ministry of Tribal Affairs

• Grant-in-aid to NGOs working for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes
• Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution

Ministry of Minority Affairs

• Implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) in West Garo Hills District

Thrust areas

The Department works in many areas: child development, women's empowerment, nutrition, persons with disabilities, juveniles in conflict with the law, violence against women and children, and the aged and infirm. It also works closely with NGOs and with other Government Departments.

Area of operation

The Department works in all eleven districts of Meghalaya, through 41 ICDS Projects in the Community and Rural Development Blocks and the two urban areas of Shillong and Tura.

Offices and institutions

• Directorate of Social Welfare, Shillong
• 1 Joint Directorate, with headquarters at Tura
• 11 District Social Welfare Officers (DSWOs)
• 5 District Programme Officers, ICDS (DPOs)
• 41 Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs)
• 3 Training Centres for Self-Employment of Women (TSEW), each headed by a Superintendent
• 3 Observation Homes
• 1 Shelter Home
• 1 MLTC
• 2 Anganwadi Workers' Training Centres (AWTCs)

See the Officers Directory for contact details.