Lok Sabha Question No. 2195 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-01
Subject: National Creche Scheme
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Md. Rakibul Hussain

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2195

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2025

## NATIONAL CRECHE SCHEME

## 2195.  MD. RAKIBUL HUSSAIN:

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

- (a) whether the government is aware that several creches under the Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme (RGNCS) are closing down due to lack of funds;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  funds  released under RGNCS along with its utilization during the FY 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22;
- (c) whether the extra funds disbursed to the State councils without any reference to the ground situation regarding the number of creches functioning/children enrolled are to be reconsidered and initiatives for the refund of additional funds to be taken by the Government;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the details and number of creches working under the scheme?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)

(a) to (e):    Rajiv Gandhi National Crèche 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 and UTs. The fund sharing pattern of the scheme between  Centre  and  Implementing  Agency  was  in  a  ratio  of  90:10.  State  Governments  and  UT Administrations  were  not  the  stakeholders  in  the  scheme,  so  monitoring  and  supervision  were inadequate. Subsequently, RGNCS was discontinued w.e.f. 31 December 2016.

From  01.01.2017  to  31.03.2022,  the  Crèche  services  were  provided  by  the  Ministry  of Women and Child Development through the erstwhile 'National Crèche Scheme for Children of Working Mothers' (NCS), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, wherein Stand-alone Crèches were being operated through NGOs as implementing agencies, with the added feature of States' share and UTs' share to ensure better local monitoring.

The Ministry introduced Palna scheme under Samarthya vertical of umbrella Mission Shakti w.e.f. 01 April 2022, to provide quality crèche facility in safe and secure environment for children (from ages 6 months - 6 years). Palna is a Centrally Sponsored 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.

Anganwadi  centres  are  the  world's  largest  childcare  institutions  dedicated  to  providing essential care and support to children ensuring delivery of care facilities to the last mile. In a first of its kind approach, Ministry has extended the services of childcare through Anganwadi cum Crèches (AWCCs).

As on 23.07.2025  a  total  of  14,599  AWCCs  have  been  approved  by  the  Ministry  as  per proposals  received  from  various  States  and  UTs,  out  of  them  2448  AWCCs  have  been  made operational by 23 States and UTs.

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