National Creche Scheme

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    Recently, the information on the National Creche Scheme has been provided by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development in the Lok Sabha today.

    • A crèche is a facility which enables parents to leave their children while they are at work and where children are provided with a stimulating environment for their holistic development.

    About the Scheme

    • Launched in 2017, it is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
      • Earlier, it was known as the Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme.
    • Aim: To provide daycare facilities to children (age group of 6 months to 6 years) of working mothers.
      • It focuses on working women in rural and urban areas who are employed for a minimum period of 15 days in a month, or six months in a year.
    • Need: The lack of proper day-care services is often a deterrent for women to go out and work. Therefore, such crèches were the urgent need for working women both in the organized and unorganized sectors.
    • Coverage: The scheme has a pan India coverage with preferences for poor children and children with special nutritional needs.
    • Integrated Package of Services under the Scheme
      • Daycare facilities including sleeping facilities.
      • Early stimulation for children below 3 years and pre-school education for 3 to 6 years old children.
      • Supplementary nutrition (to be locally sourced).
      • Growth monitoring.
      • Health check-up and immunisation.
    • Guidelines
      • Crèches shall be open for 26 days in a month and for seven and a half hours per day.
      • The number of children in the crèche should not be more than 25 per crèche with 1 worker and 1 helper. Of these, at least 40 percent of children should, preferably, be below 3 years of age.
      • User Charges
        • For BPL families: Rs. 20 per child per month.
        • For families with income (both parents) of up to Rs. 12,000 per month: Rs. 100 per child per month.
        • For families with income (both parents) of above Rs. 12,000 per month: Rs. 200 per child per month.
    • Number of Beneficiaries: As of March 2020, 6453 creches are functional across the country.
    • Assessment and Monitoring: Regular and strict monitoring is conducted at different levels to ensure effective running of the Scheme and also that the beneficiaries are delivered services.
      • In order to assess the demand for crèches, the concerned States/UTs undertake survey-based analysis along with mapping of existing crèches.
      • Monitoring of implementation is done through meetings and video conferences with the officials of State Governments/UT.
      • Ministry officials undertake field visits to ascertain the status of implementation of the scheme.
      • NITI Aayog conducts the third party evaluation.

     

    (Image Courtesy: TOI)

     

    Other Related Steps Taken by Government

    • Mahila Shakti Kendra Scheme: Aims to facilitate inter-sectoral convergence of schemes and programmes meant for empowerment of women both at the central and state/UT level.
    • Swadhar Greh Scheme: Caters to women victims of unfortunate circumstances in need of institutional support for rehabilitation, in order to provide them with a life of dignity.
    • Ujjawala Scheme: Comprehensive scheme for prevention of trafficking of women and children for commercial sexual exploitation, as well as for facilitating rescue, rehabilitation and reintegration of victims into their families and society as needed.
    • Working Women’s Hostel Scheme: Promotes the availability of safe and conveniently located accommodation for working women, with daycare facilities for their children, wherever possible, in urban, semi-urban, and even rural areas, where employment opportunities for women exist.
    • Anganwadi Services: Envisages setting up Anganwadi centres across the country for children and caters to the pre-school education, nutrition of children and lactating mothers.
    • POSHAN Abhiyan: Aims to reduce mal-nutrition/undernutrition, among young children and women from the country in a phased manner.
    • Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) Scheme: Provides cash incentives amounting to Rs. 5000 in 3 instalments to pregnant and lactating mothers.
    • Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP): Aims to celebrate the girl child by preventing gender-biased sex selective elimination, ensuring survival protection, education, and participation.
    • Home for Widows: Set up in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, it provides widows a safe and secure place to stay and live their lives with dignity.

    Source: PIB

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