Bhubaneswar: The Union Women and Child Welfare Ministry has, in the last three years, given the state around Rs 3 crore to assist the state to come up with crèche facilities for working women to encourage women participation in the work force.
Statistics from the Ministry claimed that the state has received central grants of Rs 2,94,92,000 since 2016-17 (with effect from Jan 1, 2017) under the National Crèche Mission. The state received Rs 142.66 lakh in 2016-17 and Rs 152.66 lakh in 2017-18 under the Mission. However no funds were released in the last fiscal of 2018-19, the ministry data hints.
National Crèche Scheme is being implemented as a Centrally sponsored scheme with effect from January 1, 2017 to provide day-care facilities to children (within the age-group of 6 months to 6 years) of working mothers.
The objectives of the scheme are to provide day-care facilities for children of working mothers in the community, to improve nutrition and health of children, to promote physical, cognitive, social and emotional development (holistic development) of children, to educate and empower parents /caregivers for better childcare.
The scheme was envisioned to provide an integrated package of the services like daycare facilities including sleeping facilities, early stimulation for children below 3 years and pre-school education for 3 to 6 years old children, supplementary nutrition (to be locally sourced), growth monitoring and health check-up and immunization.
The scheme has pan-India coverage. Preference is given to poor children and children with special nutritional needs. The fund sharing pattern under National Creche Scheme amongst Centre, States/UTs & Non-Governmental Organisations/Voluntary Organisations for all recurring components of the scheme is in the ratio of 60:30:10 for States, 80:10:10 for North Eastern States and Himalayan States and 90:0:10 for UTs.
