Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme For The Children Of Working Mothers

Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme for the Children of Working Mothers provides Day Care facilities to the Children in the age group 0-6 years from families with monthly income of less than Rs 12,000/-. In addition to being a safe place for the children, the crèches provide services such as supplementary nutrition, pre-school education and emergency health care, etc.

The scheme envisages implementation through the Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB), Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW) and Bhartiya Adim Jati Sevak Sangh (BAJSS). In view of the complaints regarding irregularities in management of crèches by BAJSS, 5,522 creches were temporarily transferred to CSWB with effect from 18th November, 2008. The irregularities have been enquired into by CVO of the Ministry and the report has been sent to Central Vigilance Commission for advice. Further, the CCA has been asked to conduct an internal audit of the accounts and transactions of BAJSS. The report is awaited.

Financial Norms

The scheme provides grant of Rs 3,532 per month for a crèche, limited to 90 per cent of the schematic pattern or actual expenditure whichever is less and the remaining expenditure is borne by the implementing agencies. Honorarium to creche workers is fully funded under the scheme.

Monitoring of Creches

The Scheme has in-built component of monitoring of creches. State-wise independent monitoring agencies have been identified which include schools of Social Work, Women’s Studies Centres and other reputed agencies. Grant for monitoring of Creches is given @ Rs 700.00 per crèche visited and inspected and a lump sum one time grant of Rs 10,000.00 to each monitoring agency. Every crèche is required to be inspected at least once in a period of two years.

Recent Initiatives

For better implementation of the scheme and ensuring delivery of quality services, Ministry has reviewed the procedures being followed for selection of locations/NGOs/Creche Workers, release of funds and monitoring. Accordingly, Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been prepared for CSWB which includes enhanced role for the State Government and District Administration in management of Creches. SOP have been developed which incorporate greater role of State Governments in the implementation of the scheme. This includes involvement in establishing credibility of NGOs, review of pre-funding appraisal report and monitoring at District level by a monitoring committee headed by District Magistrate and by local committees with Patwari, Govt. School Teacher/Village level worker representatives of Village Panchayat. The State Governments have been asked to inspect crèches to assess quality of services.

A Committee had been set up by the Ministry to suggest changes in the scheme for improving its coverage and quality. The Committee has suggested enhanced financial norms, stringent monitoring, and recommended fulfillment of certain pre-conditions before setting up of the crèches. To find the performance of the creches with enhanced financial norms as recommended by the Committee, the proposal to set up 5 model Creches in Delhi has been initiated.