Lok Sabha Question No. 165 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-02
Subject: Reduction in Creches
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Dr. T. Sumathy (a) Thamizhachi Thangapandian

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 165

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2024

## 'REDUCTION IN CRECHES'

## 165.   DR. T. SUMATHY (a) THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  number  of  creches  has  been reduced to 3900 in 2023 as opposed to 25,000 creches in 2013;
- (b) if so, the steps taken/being taken by the Government to address this decline in the number of creches in the country, if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government is aware of the apparent inadequacy of the number of creches allocated under the 'New Palna Scheme', with only 17,000 envisioned, in stark contrast to 25,000 creches that were operational in 2013; and;
- (d) if so, the steps taken/being taken by the Government to mitigate the fallout of the reduction in creches in the country and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) to (d): Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme (RGNCS) for the Children of Working Mothers was launched as a central sector scheme w.e.f. 1st January 2006 by merging the National Crèche Fund with the Scheme of Assistance to Voluntary Organizations for  crèches  for  Working/Ailing  Women's  Children.  The  Scheme  was  implemented through the Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB) and two voluntary organizations, namely Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW) and Bhartiya Adim Jati Sevak Sangh (BAJSS) in States/UTs. The funding pattern of the scheme was 90:10 where in 90 was Centre and 10 was Implementing Agency which were the voluntary organisations. State/UT governments were not the stakeholders in the scheme, so monitoring and supervision was inadequate.

In view of complaints regarding irregularities in management of crèches by BAJSS, 5631 creches were temporarily transferred to CSWB with effect from 18 November 2008. A writ petition, W.P.No.11116/2015, had been filed in the Honorable Delhi High Court alleging misappropriation of funds by ICCW, one of the implementing agencies. In this regard, Honorable Delhi High Court had directed that States/UTs have to verify the functioning of those crèches. Subsequently, RGNCS was discontinued w.e.f. 31 December 2016.

From  01.01.2017  onwards,  the  Crèche  services  were  provided  by  the  Ministry  of Women  and  Child  Development  through  the  erstwhile  'National  Crèche  Scheme (NCS)',  for Children of Working Mothers, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, wherein Stand-alone Crèches were being operated through NGOs as implementing agencies.

The Ministry introduced Palna sub-scheme under Mission Shakti for  all  States/UTs w.e.f. 01 April 2022, for providing day care facilities and protection to children. Palna is a Centrally sponsored scheme ensuring the participation of State/UT government to ensure better day-to-day monitoring and proper implementation of scheme.

The Government of India has decided to implement Palna through Anganwadi Centres (AWC),  which  are  the  world's  largest  childcare  institutions  dedicated  to  providing essential care and support to children ensuring delivery of care facilities till the last mile. These AWCs are operated by the Ministry of Women & Child Development. The Ministry has now decided to extend the services of childcare through Anganwadi-cumCrèches (AWCC) under Palna. The Ministry is focusing on opening more AWCCs in such places where concentration of working women, especially those in unorganised sector, and will cover larger group of needy women in rural and urban areas. . This will ensure whole day childcare support ensuring their well-being in a safe and secure environment. AWCC initiative aims to increase the women work force participation in the economy. The objective of Palna component is to provide quality crèche facility in safe and secure environment for children (from ages 6 months - 6 years), nutritional support, health and cognitive development of children, growth monitoring, immunization, education etc.

Proposals  for  establishment  and  operation  of  Crèches  are  received  from  the respective  State  Governments/UT  Administrations,  who  are  also  responsible  for contributing their corresponding share for the implementation of the Scheme. During the 15 th  Finance Cycle, a total of 17,000 AWCCs have been envisioned to be set-up, out of which, 5631 AWCCs have been approved till date, as per proposals received from various States/UTs. As on 30.11.2023, 2249 GoI aided Standalone Crèches are operational.

The  number of  17,000  AWCCs  envisioned  to  be  set-up  during  the  period  of  15th Finance Cycle is only a target figure, and is not at all a limiting factor. Continuous efforts  are  being  made  to  approve  and  operationalise  as  many  AWCCs,  as  are required by the States/ UTs.

The  Standard  Operating  Procedure  (SOP)  for  AWCCs  has  been  released  by  this Ministry on 21.12.2023, and a copy of which is available on the website of the Ministry. Also,  this  Ministry  in  consultation  with  the  Ministry  of  Labour  &  Employment  has released  National  Minimum  Standards  and  Protocol  for  Crèches  (Operation  and Management) on 30.01.2024, which provide a comprehensive framework for setting up and running of Crèches in India by any individual/ service agencies/ corporations/ companies/ universities/ hospitals/ care service providers/ government organizations /non-governmental  organizations  etc.,  emphasizing  the  institutionalization  of  care services to support and promote female labour force participation. A copy of these minimum standards and protocol is available on the website of this Ministry.

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