• This is being done as part of Palna Scheme.

What is Palna?

• Palna is intended to offer a safe and secure environment for the children of working women to function as a catalyst for increasing female labour force participation.

• Palna is a Mission Shakti sub-scheme.

• It was adopted for all States/UTs under the Ministry of Women and Child Development to provide daycare facilities and protection to children.

About Palna Scheme

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Women and Child Development

• Earlier Name: National Creche Scheme

• Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme

• Component of: Samarthya which is a sub-component under Mission Shakti.

• Target Group: Primarily urban areas where family-based childcare support is less available

• The scheme focuses on children of 6 months to 6 years, of working women in rural and urban areas who are employed for a minimum period of 15 days in a month, or six months in a year. 

Aim

• To address the urgent need for quality day-care facilities /creches for the children of working women.

• To improve nutrition and health status of children.

• To provide quality childcare facilities through Anganwadi-cum-Crèches, enabling women’s participation in the workforce.

Focus of the scheme: The scheme focuses on two types of creches

• Anganwadi-cum-Crèches: These centers combine existing Anganwadi services with dedicated crèche facilities. This approach aims to holistically address the needs of both mothers and children in one convenient location.

• Stand-alone creches: The crèches which were running under the erstwhile National Creche Scheme have been included as Stand Alone Creches. 

What is Anganwadi?

• Anganwadi facilities are the world's greatest childcare institutions, committed to providing children with vital care and assistance.

• The name 'Anganwadi' means “courtyard shelter” in English.

• The Indian government established these in 1975 as part of the Integrated Child Development Services programme to reduce child hunger and malnutrition. 

• It is mostly aimed towards youngsters aged 0 to 6.

Integrated Child Development Services

• Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), which began on October 2, 1975, is the only significant national programme that addresses the needs of children under the age of six.

• It aims to provide an integrated package of services for young children, such as supplemental nutrition, health care, and pre-school education.

• The programme also includes adolescent girls, pregnant women, and nursing mothers.

About Mission Shakti

• Mission Shakti is the Government of India's Integrated Women Empowerment Programme.

• It was launched as an Umbrella Scheme for Women's Safety, Security, and Empowerment, with implementation dates from 2021-22 to 2025-26.

• 'Sambal' and 'Samarthya' are the two sub-schemes of Mission Shakti. 

• While the “Sambal” sub-scheme is for women's protection and security, the “Samarthya” sub-scheme is for women's empowerment.