PALNA SCHEME

Why in News?                                                                                                        

The Union Women and Child Development Ministry aims to establish 17,000 creches in Anganwadi Centres across the country. This is being done as part of Palna Scheme.

What is Palna Scheme?

• Earlier known as National Creche scheme.
• Ministry of women and child development is the nodal ministry.
• Centrally sponsored scheme.
• To address the urgent need for quality day-care facilities /creches for the children of working women and to improve nutrition and health status of children.
• It is a component of Samarthya which is a subsect of Mission Shakthi.
• 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.
• 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.