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New Delhi : National Creche Scheme (earlier named as Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme) is being implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme through States/UTs with effect from January 1, 2017, to provide day care facilities to children (age group of 6 months to 6 years) of working mothers. As on March 11, 2020, 6,453 creches are functional across the country under the National Creche Scheme.
The salient features of the National Creche Scheme are : 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 Immunisation.
The guidelines provide that Crèches shall remain open for 26 days in a month and for seven and half (7-1/2) hours per day; The number of children at the crèche should not be more than 25 per crèche with 1 Worker and 1 helper respectively.
User charges to bring in an element of community ownership and collected as BPL families – Rs 20 per child per month; Families with Income (Both Parents) of up to Rs 12,000per month – Rs 100 per child per month ; Families with Income (Both Parents) of above Rs 12,000 per month – Rs 200 per child per month.
Regular and strict monitoring is conducted at different levels to ensure effective running of the Scheme and also to ensure that the beneficiaries are delivered services as envisaged in the Scheme. Monitoring of implementation of the scheme is being undertaken through meetings and video conferences with the officials of State Governments/ UT. This information was given by Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Zubin Irani in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on March 13, 2020, according to a PIB release.