Context: National Crèche Scheme is being implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme through States/UTs with effect from 01.01.2017.

About National Creche Scheme:

The Scheme is being implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.

It is a centrally sponsored scheme.

It aims at providing a safe place for mothers to leave their children while they are at work, and thus, is a measure for empowering women as it enables them to take up employment.

Coverage: It is an intervention towards protection and development of children in the age group of 6 months to 6 years.

Features:

1. Provides for day care facilities to the children of working mothers.
2. Provides supplementary nutrition, health care inputs like immunization, polio drops, basic health monitoring, sleeping facilities, early stimulation (for children below 3 years), pre-school education for children aged between 3-6 yrs.

Significance:

1. This scheme facility enables the parents to leave their children while they are at work and where the children are provided with a stimulating environment for their holistic development.
2. This scheme ensures to improve the health and nutrition status of the children.
3. It promotes physical, social, cognitive and emotional/holistic development of the children.
4. It also educates and empowers parents/caretakers for the better childcare.
5. The scheme is being structurally revised with the enhanced financial norms, stringent monitoring and sharing pattern between the Government of India and the implementing agencies and NGOs.

Eligibility Criteria:

The State Government, Voluntary Institutions, Mahila Mandals with the know report of service in the field of child welfare department and registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 or registered as a Public Trust at least for the period for last 2 years are eligible for applying for the financial assistance from the fund.

Fund sharing:

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.

Why the Centre must invest more in the National Creche Scheme?

The physical and cognitive development of a child begins in the womb, and 90% of it happens before she is three. It is in this time period that good nutrition is critical.