ନମସ୍କାର · Cuttack, Odisha · Since 1994
Standing with the women, children and young people of Cuttack for over 30 years.
Women & Child Welfare Society (WCWS) is a registered non-profit. We help poor and deprived families, especially women, children and SC/ST communities, reach the government schemes, health care, education and skills they are entitled to.
- Registered societyNo. 19815/43 of 1995-96
- FCRA104860173
- Income Tax 12A12A/481-37/2009-10
- NGO Darpan IDOR/2009/0003055
- years of serviceSince January 1994
- 30+
- volunteerswith 12 staff (2019 profile)
- 51
- programme areasacross Cuttack district and Odisha
- 8
- committee rolesdistrict and state bodies, held by our General Secretary
- 14+
- named awards & honoursto WCWS and its General Secretary
- 12
About WCWS
A bridge between government schemes and the people who need them
WCWS was started by young volunteers in Cuttack in January 1994 and registered on 23 September 1995 under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. Our road safety, health and child labour work has been supported by the Government of India and the Government of Odisha.
Mission
Empower the poor and develop their potential. Raise the social and economic status of the community, reduce poverty and bring sustainable development, with a focus on women, children, SC/ST communities and the deprived poor.
Vision
A just society free of discrimination, where every person has equal rights regardless of caste, creed, sex or religion.
Aim
Improve the quality of life of deprived people, with emphasis on women, children and youth.
How we work
- Identify the problems of the weaker sections of the community
- Prioritise their needs
- Resolve them with available resources
- Stay organised a systematic, holistic approach
WCWS is governed by an Executive Body. The General Secretary is the Chief Functionary and runs day-to-day work. An Advisory Committee of experts in health, law, social work, science, environment and road safety guides our policy and planning.
What we do
Our programmes
Eight areas of work, run with district and state government partners.
Road safety
We observe National Road Safety Week, run seminars, and organise health check-ups and eye tests for drivers across Odisha. WCWS is a member of the District Road Safety Committee, Cuttack and the European Road Safety Charter.
Child labour & education
A special learning centre in Cuttack city for child-labour students, offering education, nutrition, health care and vocational training. Our work has been appreciated by the National Child Labour Project, Cuttack.
Health & sanitation
Health camps, HIV/AIDS and malaria awareness, and bed-net impregnation drives with the Health Department, plus sanitation programmes in several districts.
Safe motherhood
Awareness rallies and public hearings. Our General Secretary is Assistant Coordinator of the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, Cuttack chapter.
Adolescents in slums
Gender education, awareness about unwanted pregnancy, and peer groups that help young people stay safe.
Women's empowerment
Skills, health and awareness for women and girls, and the formation of self-help groups (SHGs).
Youth & careers
Career guidance, counselling and career melas, plus youth wellness and Fit India training with Nehru Yuva Kendra.
Energy conservation
Oil and gas conservation activities and school competitions with the Petroleum Conservation Research Association, Eastern Region.
We also work on
- Human rights & legal awareness
- Environment
- Science & technology
- Disaster management
- Dalit welfare
- Micro-finance through SHGs
- Vocational training
- Urban & rural poverty
From the field
Moments from our trainings, camps and campaigns.
Swipe for more →
Medicinal plantation and herbal garden at Urdu Girls' High School, Cuttack2026 Women at our food donation drive2026 "Streets for Life #Love30" campaign, 6th UN Global Road Safety Week2021 Presenting at a road safety advocates' training, New Delhi2018 Programme for SHG leaders on International Women's Day Block-level workshop on village disaster management plans, Phase II2024 Energy conservation stall at Kishan Mela2022 Junior Red Cross training camp, Khordha
Watch
Our work on video
Short films from our own YouTube channel. Videos load only when you tap play.
International Women's Day with schoolgirls and SHG members
Mar 2026
Herbal garden & awareness programme, Urdu Girls' High School, Cuttack
Jul 2026
6th UN Global Road Safety Week, 17–23 May 2021
May 2021
Block-level workshop: village disaster management plans (Phase II)
Feb 2024
First Annual Day of Radio Baghajatin 89.6 FM
2024
National Youth Day 2024
Jan 2024
Community radio
Radio Baghajatin 89.6 FM
A community radio station at Sanbisol in Mayurbhanj district, giving local people a voice on air. Its inaugural ceremony was held on 2 October 2023. WCWS publishes the station's annual reports. The latest, for 2024–25, came out in December 2025, followed by a station profile in February 2026.
Recent work
Still active, every year
Recent activities, newest first. Our road safety, health and education work goes back to 1994.
Jul 2026
Medicinal plantation, herbal garden and awareness programme at Urdu Girls' High School, Cuttack. Watch video (opens in new tab)
Jul 2026
Programme for community resilience: preparing Gram Panchayat and village disaster management plans. Watch video (opens in new tab)
Jul 2026
Food donation drive. Watch video (opens in new tab)
Mar 2026
Observed International Women's Day with schoolgirls and women's groups. Watch video (opens in new tab)
20 Feb 2026
Published the Radio Baghajatin station profile.
30 Dec 2025
Released the Annual Report 2024–25 of Radio Baghajatin 89.6 FM. Read report (opens in new tab)
30 Jul 2024
Gram Panchayat-level disaster management plan, Sribantapur GP, Barang block. Watch video (opens in new tab)
Feb 2024
Block-level workshop on preparing village-level disaster management plans (Phase II). Watch video (opens in new tab)
Jan 2024
Observed National Youth Day 2024. Watch video (opens in new tab)
2 Oct 2023
Inaugural ceremony of the community radio station Radio Baghajatin 89.6 FM. Watch video (opens in new tab)
Earlier activities (4)
2022–23
Published the WCWS Annual Report 2022–23.
6 Feb 2022
Youth wellness, positive lifestyle and Fit India training for 40 young people at Praharajpur, Kishorenagar, Cuttack, with Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan.
1 Feb 2022
Career guidance, counselling and a career mela with Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan at Jan Shikshan Sansthan, CDA Sector-9, Cuttack.
17–23 May 2021
Observed the 6th UN Global Road Safety Week with a webinar, a social media campaign and a signature campaign. Watch video (opens in new tab)
Leadership
Mrs. Minati Bindhani
General Secretary & Chief Functionary · since 1994
Mrs. Minati Bindhani has led WCWS since it began in 1994. She serves on several Cuttack district bodies, including the District Road Safety Committee, the District Vigilance Committees on SC/ST and bonded labour, the District MTP Committee and the Rogi Kalyan Samiti monitoring committee. She is Joint Secretary of the Forum for Prevention of Road Accidents, Cuttack, and a Life Member of the Indian Red Cross Society, Odisha Branch.
She trained in child rights, micronutrients, adolescent girls and early childhood care at NIPCCD, New Delhi (1997–2004), and in child labour at the V.V. Giri National Labour Institute, Noida (2004). Since 1994 she has also run refresher training for heavy motor vehicle drivers.
Speaks Odia, Hindi and English.
All committee roles (14)
- Life Member, Indian Red Cross Society, Odisha Branch
- Member, District Road Safety Committee, Cuttack
- Member, District MTP Committee and District Vigilance Committees (SC/ST, Bonded Labour), Cuttack
- Monitoring Committee Member, District Rogi Kalyan Samiti
- Joint Secretary, Forum for Prevention of Road Accidents (FPRA), Cuttack
- Asst. Coordinator, White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, Cuttack chapter
- Member, Campaign Against Child Labour (CACL), Cuttack chapter
- Member, Committee for Legal Aid to Poor (CLAP), Cuttack
- Member, FORCES (crèche and child care), Odisha chapter
- Member, Internal Complaints Committees at DIG Prisons (Cuttack Range) and STA Odisha
- Member, State Medicinal Plant Board
- Nominated Member, SWARUPA SHG Federation
- Member, Task Force on Facilities for Persons with Disabilities
- Member, NYKS and District Administration Youth Award Selection Committee
Keshab Chandra Maharana
Programme Coordinator
Coordinates WCWS programmes and events with Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan and Jan Shikshan Sansthan.
Recognition
Three decades of recognition
Awards to WCWS and to our General Secretary, from the Chief Minister of Odisha to national and district bodies.
To the organisation
- Award from the Chief Minister of Odisha for social service
- Best Organisation Award for Environment Awareness
- Road Safety Appreciation Award
- Bikash Jatra Appreciation
To Mrs. Minati Bindhani
- 14th Godfrey Phillips Bravery Award
- District Level Road Safety Award
- Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Award
- Sevaratna Samman
- Akshaya Trutiya Samman
- Nyayajyoti Award
- Prakruti Bandhu Award
- Best Social Worker
Naba Krushna Choudhury Memorial Sanman2001 Prakruti Bandhu Award2006–07 14th Godfrey Phillips Bravery Award2006 District Level Road Safety Award2008 Nyaya Jyoti Award2008 Road Safety Appreciation Award2008 Akshaya Trutiya Samman2009 Best Road Safety Activist Award2009 Best Social Activist2009 Seba Ratna Samman2009 Prakruti Mitra Puraskar2010–11 Good Samaritan Award2021
Also: Junior Red Cross Award for Road Safety Activities (2009, 2010), Kanya Shree Samman (2022), recognition at Evation Agri Vision, Ravenshaw University (8 Mar 2022).
Working together
Committees, networks and partners
District committees
- District Vigilance Committee on Bonded Labour, Cuttack
- District Vigilance Committee under SC & ST, Cuttack
- District MTP Committee, Cuttack
- District Road Safety Committee, Cuttack
- NDRF, Cuttack
Networks
- Odisha Rajya Rogi Adhikar Mancha
- International Women Peace Group, Korea
- Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety
- Indian Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety
- European Road Safety Charter (member)
Programme partners
- Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, Cuttack
- Jan Shikshan Sansthan, Cuttack
- National Child Labour Project, Cuttack
- Health Department, Odisha
- Petroleum Conservation Research Association, Eastern Region
- White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood
Transparency
Legal registrations
For donors, CSR teams and verification platforms. Need copies of our certificates? Email info@womenchildwelfaresociety.org.
| Registration | Number | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Societies Registration Act 1860, Sec. XXI | 19815/43 of 1995-96 | 23 Sep 1995 |
| FCRA, Sec. 6(1)(a) | 104860173 | 22 Sep 2009 |
| Income Tax 12A (Sec. 12A/21A) | 12A/481-37/2009-10 | 31 Mar 2010 |
| PAN | AAATW0620Q | — |
| SSBE (DIC, Cuttack) | 211207886/DIC | 26 Mar 2004 |
| NGO Darpan / Planning Commission ID | OR/2009/0003055 | 24 Jul 2009 |
- Registered office
- Gamhandia New Colony, PO Buxibazar, Cuttack, Odisha 753001
- Chief Functionary
- Mrs. Minati Bindhani, General Secretary
- Area of operation
- Cuttack city and district, Odisha
- Team
- 12 staff, 51 volunteers (2019)
- Founded
- January 1994
Documents
Membership, European Road Safety Charter
Mobility and Transport, European Commission
Annual Report 2024–25, Radio Baghajatin 89.6 FM
View (opens in new tab)WCWS Annual Report 2022–23
[To be filled by WCWS]: PDF to be supplied
Support us
Help us reach more women, children and young people
For over 30 years WCWS has worked alongside the district administration in Cuttack. Your support keeps our programmes running.
Volunteer
Join our 51 volunteers at camps, awareness drives and road safety weeks in Cuttack.
WhatsApp us (opens in new tab)Partner with us
CSR teams, government departments and institutions: write to us about joint programmes.
Email usinfo@womenchildwelfaresociety.org
Contact
Talk to us
Call, WhatsApp or email. You can also visit our office in Cuttack.