New Delhi: The central government has now started giving shape to its announcement in the budget to open creches in collaboration with private industries for the convenience of working women with small children.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development has issued National Minimum Standard Protocols for operation and management of creches. Besides, meetings are also being held with industry associations and various agencies to gather diverse views on setting up of creches in public and private partnership.

Participation of women in the workforce

The Modi government, which is committed to becoming the world's third largest economy in the next five years, is focusing on women-led development, for which there is a need to increase women's participation in the workforce. Women's participation in the workforce will increase only when their safety and that of their children is ensured.

Working women are always worried about the care and safety of their children. Realizing this, the government had announced the launch of a crèche scheme in collaboration with private industries in the budget. Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi told Jagran in an exclusive interview that work is being done in this direction.

The Ministry has issued National Minimum Standards and Protocols (Operation and Management) for Creches. It aims to provide guidance for setting up of creches by individual service agencies, institutions, companies, universities, hospitals, care service providers, government organisations, NGOs, etc.

Consultations sought on setting up of creches

To gather diverse views on setting up of creches with public and private partnership, a stakeholder consultation was held on 6th June with various officials from all States, Union Territories as well as mobile creches, UN agencies like World Bank, UNDP India, UN Women, UNICEF and industry chambers like FICCI, PHDCCI, CCI and ASSOCHAM.

Such meetings are being organized regularly to encourage private companies to develop course frameworks and various organizations to share best practices implemented by industry partners.

There is a provision to set up a creche in Sakhi Niwas Yojana as well

However, there is a provision for setting up creches in various sub-schemes included under Mission Shakti Yojana of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Mission Palna and Sakhi Niwas Yojana. Under Mission Palna, there is a provision for setting up creches along with Anganwadi centres, while under Sakhi Niwas Yojana, there is a provision for housing for working women, and under that too there is a provision for setting up creches. The Women and Child Development Minister says that these sub-schemes will help in increasing the participation of women in the workplace.