25-12-2023

National Programme on Anganwadi-cum-Creches

Why in the news?

Recently, the Union Minister of Women and Child Development inaugurated the National Programme on Anganwadi cum Creches in New Delhi.

About the National Programme on Anganwadi-cum-Creches:

• The Anganwadi-Cum-Creche initiative under the Palna Scheme underwent revisions and was included as part of the Samarthya sub-component of Mission Shakti, starting from April 2022.
• The central aim of Anganwadi-cum- Creches is to meet the demand for quality childcare facilities and enable women to actively participate in the workforce.
• The Government of India aims to set up 17,000 creches across the country.

Key points about Palna Scheme:

The erstwhile National Creche Scheme has been reorganised and renamed as Palna Scheme under the sub scheme ‘Samarthya’ of ‘Mission Shakti’. 

Objectives

• To provide day-care facilities for children (6 months to 6 years) of working mothers in the community.
• To improve nutrition and health status of children.
• To promote physical, cognitive, social and emotional development (Holistic Development) of children.
• To educate and empower parents /caregivers for better childcare.

Services: The scheme will provide an integrated package of the following services:

• 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 Immunization.

Target group: The scheme focuses on children of 6 months to 6 years, of 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.

What is a creche?

• A creche is a facility which enables parents to leave their children while they are at work and where children are provided a stimulating environment for their holistic development.
• Creches are designed to provide group care to children, usually up to 6 years of age, who need care, guidance and supervision away from their home during the day.
• Anganwadi cum Crèche will prove to be instrumental in improving the labour force participation among women, thereby making a substantial impact on the economic development of Bharat”.
• The fund sharing pattern under National Creche Scheme amongst Centre, States/UTs & Non Governmental Organisations/Voluntary Organisations is in the ratio of 60:30:10 for States, 80:10:10 for North Eastern States and Himalayan States and 90:0:10 for UTs.

Benefits of Creche Facility

• It helps women to manage both their career as well as their family responsibility.
• It promotes gender diversity at workplaces.
• Creche facilities help promote gender equality and democracy by increasing participation of women in the economy.

About Mission Shakti Mission

• It is an integrated women empowerment program of the Government of India.
•  It was launched as an umbrella scheme for women safety, security and empowerment with implementation dates from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
• 'Sambal' and 'Samarthya' are two sub-schemes of Mission Shakti.
• While the “Sambal” sub-scheme is for the safety and security of women, the “Samarth” sub-scheme is for women empowerment.

                                                       Source:The Hindu