Palna Scheme
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: DD News
Context: The 7th edition of Poshan Pakhwada began on April, with a spotlight on early childhood nutrition, and the government’s Palna Scheme is being promoted as a key childcare intervention under Mission Shakti.
About Palna Scheme:
• What it is?
• Palna is a centrally sponsored scheme that provides quality crèche services for children aged 6 months to 6 years, especially for working mothers in urban and rural India.
• Palna is a centrally sponsored scheme that provides quality crèche services for children aged 6 months to 6 years, especially for working mothers in urban and rural India.
• Ministry: Implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD).
• Launched in: 2022, as a restructured version of the earlier National Crèche Scheme.
• Part of Initiative: Operates under the Samarthya sub-scheme of the government’s Mission Shakti umbrella programme.
• Budget & Funding: Follows a Centre–State cost-sharing ratio of 60:40, and 90:10 for Northeast and special category states.
• Objectives:
• Support working mothers by providing safe, accessible, and affordable day-care services. Ensure early childhood care, nutritional support, and early education for children. Promote continued breastfeeding by situating crèches near homes or workplaces.
• Support working mothers by providing safe, accessible, and affordable day-care services.
• Ensure early childhood care, nutritional support, and early education for children.
• Promote continued breastfeeding by situating crèches near homes or workplaces.
• Key Features of the Scheme:
• Two Creche Models: Standalone Crèches: Operate independently near workplaces or residential areas. Anganwadi-cum-Crèches (AWCCs): Integrated into existing Anganwadi centres for added reach. Creche Capacity: Each unit supports up to 25 children, ensuring manageable and personalised care. Comprehensive Childcare: Offers nutritional meals, growth tracking, early stimulation, preschool education, and immunization support.
• Two Creche Models: Standalone Crèches: Operate independently near workplaces or residential areas. Anganwadi-cum-Crèches (AWCCs): Integrated into existing Anganwadi centres for added reach.
• Standalone Crèches: Operate independently near workplaces or residential areas.
• Anganwadi-cum-Crèches (AWCCs): Integrated into existing Anganwadi centres for added reach.
• Creche Capacity: Each unit supports up to 25 children, ensuring manageable and personalised care.
• Comprehensive Childcare: Offers nutritional meals, growth tracking, early stimulation, preschool education, and immunization support.