Maneka Gandhi assumes charge of Women & Child Development Ministry

New Delhi, May 28: Animal rights activist and environmentalist

on Wednesday assumed charge of the

.

Immediately after taking charge, she held a meeting with the Secretary and the Joint Secretaries. The officials also gave a presentation on the work being undertaken by the Ministry.

"She was a listener and we were the speakers during the meeting," an official who attended the meeting said.

The new Minister has been allotted the former Coal minister's office on the third floor in Shastri Bhavan.

With the new BJP-led government coming to the Centre, the women and child development ministry has been upgraded to cabinet rank.

This is being seen as a positive development by activists who feel the ministry can now be involved in policy decisions and play a proactive role.

PTI