Lok Sabha Question No. 761 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-07
Subject: Anganwadi-cum-Crèche under Palna Scheme
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Shri Ravindra Dattaram Waikar, Smt. Shambhavi, Shri Rajesh Verma, Shri Naresh Ganpat Mhaske

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 761

TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2025

## Anganwadi-cum-Crèche Centres under Palna Scheme

## 761 . Shri Rajesh Verma:

Smt. Shambhavi:

Shri Ravindra Dattaram Waikar:

Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde:

Shri Naresh Ganpat Mhaske:

Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  implement  the  Anganwadi-cum-Crèche (AWCC) initiative under the Palna scheme to enhance childcare services for working
- mothers; (b)  the  manner  in  which  the  AWCC  facilities  aim  to  support  women's  workforce participation  and  address  the  challenges  faced  by  mothers  in  balancing  work  and childcare responsibilities; (c)  the  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  that  crèche  services  are accessible to all mothers regardless of their employment status; (d)  the  manner  in  which  the  Government  plans  to  monitor  and  evaluate  the effectiveness of the AWCCs in providing quality care and support for children aged 6 months to 6 years; and (e) the details of collaboration between State Governments and Union Government to
- establish and operationalize these AWCCs across various regions in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

(SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)

(a) to (e): Government's sustained initiatives on education, skilling and employment of women have resulted in increased opportunities for their employment, and more and more women are now in gainful employment, working within or outside their homes. Growing industrialization and urbanisation have also led to increased migration into the cities. Past few decades have shown a rapid increase in nuclear families. Thus, the  children  of  such  working  women,  who  were  earlier  getting  support  from  joint families while they were at work, are now in need of day care services which have to provide quality care and protection for the children. Lack of proper day-care services is, often, a deterrent for women to go out and work. Hence, there is an urgent need for improved quality and reach of day care services/crèches for working women amongst all socioeconomic groups both in the organized and unorganized sectors.

To address these difficulties faced by the working mothers in giving due child care  and  protection  to  their  children,  day-care  crèche  facilities  are  being  provided through  Palna  Scheme.  Crèche  services  formalise  the  child  care  responsibilities hitherto considered as part of domestic work. Formalization of care work supports the 'decent work campaign' to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 8 - Decent work and economic growth. This will also enable more mothers, who will be free from unpaid child-care responsibilities, to take up gainful employment.

Anganwadi  centres  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.  In  a  first  of  its  kind  approach,  Ministry  has  extended  the  services  of childcare  through  Anganwadi  cum  Crèche  (AWCC).  This  will  ensure  whole  day childcare  support  ensuring  their  well-being  in  a  safe  and  secure  environment. Anganwadi cum Crèche initiative aims to increase 'women work force participation' in the economy. The objective of Palna Scheme 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. Crèche facilities under Palna are provided to all mothers, irrespective of their employment status.

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, and is implemented with a funding ratio of 60:40 between Centre and State Governments and UTs with legislature except North East & Special Category States where ratio is 90:10. For UTs without legislature, 100% funding is provided by the central government.

Proposals  for  establishment  and  operation  of  AWCCs  are  received from the respective  State  Governments/UT  Administrations.  As  on  date,  a  total  of  11,395 AWCCs have been approved as per proposals received from various States/UTs.

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