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Performance of Rajiv Gandhi National Crèche Scheme for Children of Working Mothers

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Performance of Rajiv Gandhi National Crèche Scheme for Children of Working Mothers Report Performance of Rajiv Gandhi National Crèche Scheme for Children of Working Mothers Sponsored By Planning Commission Government of India New Delhi Conducted By Supath Gramyodyog Sansthan Himmat Nagar, Gujarat 2013 CONTENT Chapter Particulars Page Number Preface & Acknowledgment I – II Executive Summary I – VI Chapter – 1 Introduction 1 - 9 Chapter – 2 Care and Protection of Young Children 10 - 36 Chapter – 3 Performance of Rajiv Gandhi National Crèche 37 - 57 Scheme in Selected States Chapter – 4 Role of Implementing Agencies 58 - 66 Chapter – 5 Infrastructural Facilities in Crèches 67 - 91 Chapter – 6 Profile of Beneficiaries and their Participation in 92 - 111 Crèche Scheme Chapter – 7 View Perceptions of People’s Representatives 112 - 118 Chapter – 8 View Perceptions of State Officials 119 - 127 Chapter – 9 Conclusion and Policy Recommendations 128 -132 Annexure Observation Schedule I - III Questionnaire for Crèche Centre I - VI Questionnaire for State Officials I - II Questionnaire for Project Implementing Agency I - IV Questionnaire for People’s Representatives I - II Questionnaire for Working Mothers I - V References I - IV Preface & Acknowledgement In the changing business and economic environment, women are entering the job market with increase employment opportunities and also gender inclusive policies. Economic liberalization, globalization and privatization have brought out significant changes in society, polity and economy. With the breaking of joint family system and the increased phenomena of nuclear families, working women need support in terms of care for their young children while they are at work. Effective day care for young children is essential for providing support to both mothers and young children. It is also a protective measure which addresses the issues of child labour, school drop outs, outreach for medical and health programme, female literacy, malnutrition, etc. Hence, there is imperative need to improve the quality and outreach of child day care services for working mothers and also achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Rajiv Gandhi National Crèche Scheme for Working Mothers has been implemented by Government of India under the Ministry of Women and Child Development and the responsibility of its effective implementation has been entrusted to Central Social Welfare Board along with two other nodal agencies viz., Indian Council for Child Welfare and Bhartiya Adim Jati Sewak Sangh. The programme is being implemented in partnership with civil society organizations and some of private and corporate agencies. Present study purports to examine the functioning and performance of the scheme and suggesting the measures for its effective implementation. The study has been planned in nine chapters. Chapter 1st is introductory one which provides rationale, objectives, research methodology of the study. Chapter 2nd deals with care and protection of young children. It also provides theoretical, policy and legal perspective pertaining to child care, protection and development. Chapter 3rd is concerned with performance of Rajiv Gandhi National Crèche Scheme for Working Mothers. The chapter is based on secondary data and information obtained from observation of crèches in selected states during the field survey. Chapter 4th examines the role of Project Implementing Agencies in implementation of the scheme. Chapter 5th is concerned with infrastructural facilities existing in crèches of the selected states. Chapter 6th is related with analysis of socio-economic profile of beneficiaries (working mothers) and their participation in the scheme. Chapter 7th is concerned with analysis of view perception of people’s representatives while Chapter 8th is related with analysis of view perception of state officials. Chapter 9th is concluding one which provides analysis of major research findings and policy recommendations. We are highly grateful to the concerned officials of Planning Commission, Government of India, New Delhi for entrusting the study to us by providing financial support. We are grateful to the officials of Central Social Welfare Board, New Delhi for extending all kind of support in smooth conduct of the field survey and collection of desired information. We express our sincere gratitude to Mrs. Prema Kariappa, and Shri S.K. Jha, Executive Director, Central Social Welfare Board, New Delhi for showing keen interest in the study and also extending all cooperation. We put on record the sincere appreciation of Shri K.J. Kakanwar, Former Joint Director (Crèche), Central Social Welfare Board, New Delhi for his warm support, encouragement and issuing the instructions to the concerned officials of State Social Welfare Boards for extending full support to the research team during the field survey. We express our sincere gratitude to chairpersons of State Social Welfare Boards, Assam, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh for instructing the concerned officials to provide desired information and extend support to the research team during the field survey. We are also thankful to the concerned officials of concerned State Social Welfare Boards for extending warm support to the research team during the field survey. Without their active support and cooperation to the research team, the field survey would not have possible. I am thankful to Mr. N.A. Zena, Secretary, SSWB, Maharashtra, Mr. P.K. Ojha, Secretary, SSWB, Madhya Pradesh, Mr. S. Rai Chowdhary, Secretary, SSWB, West Bengal, Mr. D.S. Negi, Secretary, SSWB, Himachal Pradesh, Mr. Ali, Secretary, I SSWB, Assam, Mr. Alango, Secretary, SSWB, Karnataka, Mr. Redappa, SSWB, Andhra Pradesh, and Secretary SSWB, Tripura. I am thankful to Mr. R.K. Singh, Secretary, U.P. State Social Welfare Board, Lucknow who provided the liasoning services with Central Social Welfare Board, New Delhi and organizing the meeting of concerned state officials for threadbare discussions and deliberations on pertinent issues related to functioning and performance of Rajiv Gandhi National Crèche Scheme. I express my sincere thankfulness to Dr. A.K. Singh who kindly assisted us in drafting of the research tools, coordinating the field survey, data processing, and finally drafting of the report. I am thankful to the members of the research team who toiled during the field survey in difficult situations. Lastly I am thankful to the respondents who provided valuable information and cooperated to the research team during field survey. D.S. Sutaria Project Director II Executive Summary In the changing business and economic environment, women are entering the job market with increase employment opportunities and also gender inclusive policies. Economic liberalization, globalization and privatization have brought out significant changes in society, polity and economy. With the breaking of joint family system and the increased phenomena of nuclear families, working women need support in terms of care for their young children while they are at work. Effective day care for young children is essential for providing support to both mothers and young children. It is also a protective measure which addresses the issues of child labour, school drop outs, outreach for medical and health programme, female literacy, malnutrition, etc. Hence, there is imperative need to improve the quality and outreach of child day care services for working mothers and also achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Rajiv Gandhi National Crèche Scheme for Working Mothers has been implemented by Government of India under the Ministry of Women and Child Development and the responsibility of its effective implementation has been entrusted to Central Social Welfare Board along with two other nodal agencies viz., Indian Council for Child Welfare and Bhartiya Adim Jati Sewak Sangh. The programme is being implemented in partnership with civil society organizations and some of private and corporate agencies. Present study purports to examine the functioning and performance of the scheme and suggesting the measures for its effective implementation. The study has the following main objectives: • To study the relevance and need of the scheme for children of working mothers in the view of universalization of ICDS; • To study the modus operandi of implementation of Rajiv Gandhi National Crèche Scheme for the Children of Working Mothers in selected states; • To examine the status of physical infrastructure and service deliveries at Crèche Centres and also to explore the possibility of upgrading Anganwadi Centres to full time crèches in selected states; • To study the training facility for orientation of crèche workers and also to examine the impact of training to crèche workers in implementation of the scheme; • To review the existing mechanism of the monitoring of crèche for effective functioning of the scheme and also to study the possibility of converting the scheme into a centrally sponsored scheme; • To examine the problems in effective functioning of the Rajiv Gandhi National Crèche Scheme for children of working mothers; and also women inmates in their socio-economic rehabilitation; • To suggest policy measures for effective and efficient functioning and performance of the scheme. The study has been conducted keeping in view the following hypotheses: • Rajiv Gandhi National Crèche Scheme has provided morale support to the working mothers in proper care of children. • Rajiv Gandhi National Crèche Scheme has empowered working mothers for child care
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