Lok Sabha Question No. 742 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-29
Subject: Anganwadi-cum-Creche Centres
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Raju Bista

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 742

TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.11.2024

## ANGANWADI-CUM-CRECHE CENTRES

742. Shri Raju Bista:

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

- (a)      the manner in which establishment of Anganwadi-cum-Crèche Centres across the country by 2029 aims to enhance early childhood care and education and the benefits expected to accrue the children;
- (b)      the objectives behind integrating crèches with Anganwadi services to support both childcare and educational development for young children;
- (c)        the manner in which this initiative contribute to increase women's workforce participation;
- (d)      the  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  that  these  centres  are established in a way that they cater to the needs of families, especially in rural and underserved areas of West Bengal, particularly in the districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and North Dinajpur; and
- (e)      the manner in which the Government will monitor and evaluate the success of these centres in terms of both child development outcomes and their impact on women's employment?

## 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 has 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 the component of Palna. 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 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. Crèche facilities under Palna are to be provided to all mothers, irrespective of their employment status.

Proposals for establishment and operation of AWCCs are received from the respective State Governments/UT Administrations, who are also responsible for contributing their corresponding share for the implementation of the Scheme. As on date, a total of 10,609  AWCCs  have  been  approved  as  per  proposals  received  from  various States/UTs.  The  State  Government  of  West  Bengal  have  sent  proposals  for establishment of 10 AWCCs, all of which have been approved by the Ministry. The Government of West Bengal is yet to operationalize these approved AWCCs.

******