14,719 creches to be set up under Rajiv Gandhi Nat Scheme

New Delhi, May 7 (UNI) A total of 14,719 new creches will be set up under the newly-launched Rajiv Gandhi National Scheme for the Children of Working Mothers by the 10th Five Year Plan-end, aimed at providing greater support to working women.

Launched on January 1, 2006 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the scheme is touted as an improvement over the National Creche Fund and the Scheme of Assistance to Voluntary Organisations for Creche for Working and Ailing Women's Children which it has replaced.

Alongside improved services, enhanced financial allotment and more creches being offered to working parents, the eligibility criteria has been suitably widened from Rs 1,800 to Rs 12,000.

In a major boost, financial norms for the creches have been revised substantially from Rs 18,480 to Rs 42,384 per creche per annum.

As a first step, 7,000 new creches are targeted to be set up by March 31, 2006, ministry sources said.

Priority will be given to uncovered districts and tribal areas while extending the creche scheme.

The main objective of the scheme is to promote healthy all-round development of children of working/ailing mothers particularly those employed in the organised sector and belonging to the BPL category.

Children admitted in the creches are being given sleeping and day care facilities, supplementary nutrition, immunisation, medicines and recreation.

Guidelines stipulating general instructions on the physical environment, food and other essentials have been formulated which will be followed by the implementing agencies.

The creches have been allocated to the Central Social Welfare Board, Indian Council for Child Welfare and Bhartiya Adim Jati Sevak Sangh in the ratio of 80:11:9. Thus, each organisation will open 5,600, 770 and 630 creches respectively.

Every creche will be inspected at least once in two years.

Regular inspection will be conducted by the independent monitoring agencies identified with the help of state governments concerned to assess the motivation and capacity of the implementing agencies.

To build a child-friendly environment in these centres, the creche workers are given short term training to orient the workers and the agency.

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