Context:
- The Palna Scheme, restructured from the National Creche Scheme in 2022, is part of the Samarthya sub-scheme under Mission Shakti.
- It addresses the increasing demand for quality day-care services due to the rise in nuclear families and women’s workforce participation.
- The scheme aims to formalize childcare, previously viewed as unpaid domestic work, thereby aligning with SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.
Objectives of the Palna Scheme
- Provide safe and quality crèche facilities for children aged 6 months to 6 years.
- Support nutritional, health, and cognitive development.
- Monitor and enforce compliance with Section 11A of the Maternity Benefit Act (mandatory workplace crèches).
- Encourage mothers’ participation in gainful employment by removing unpaid childcare burdens.
Funding Structure
| Region | Centre’s Share | State/UT Share |
|---|---|---|
| General States | 60% | 40% |
| NE & Special Category States | 90% | 10% |
| UTs with Legislature | 60% | 40% |
| UTs without Legislature | 100% | 0% |
Integrated Package of Services
In convergence with Mission Poshan 2.0, Palna offers:
- Day care including sleeping facilities
- Early stimulation for children below 3 years
- Pre-school education for children aged 3–6
- Locally sourced supplementary nutrition
- Health check-ups, growth monitoring, and immunizations
Types of Crèches
- Standalone Crèches: One Creche Worker + One Creche Helper
- Anganwadi-cum-Creches (AWCCs): Existing AWW & Helper + One Creche Worker + One Creche Helper
Crèche Infrastructure & Implementation
- Crèche Operation: 7.5 hours/day, 26 days/month
- Location Preference: Within 0.5–1 km of residential/workplace areas
- Child Capacity: Max 25 children per crèche
- Supervision: Anganwadi Workers oversee hygiene, safety, feeding, toilet training, and health services
Worker Honorarium Structure
| Type of Crèche | Creche Worker | Creche Helper |
|---|---|---|
| Standalone | ₹6,500 | ₹3,250 |
| AWCC | ₹5,500 | ₹3,000 |
Note: States/UTs may top-up these honoraria from their own budgets.
Progress & Coverage (as of March 2025)
- AWCCs Approved: 11,395 across 34 States/UTs
- AWCCs Operational: 1,761 with 28,783 beneficiaries
- Standalone Crèches Operational: 1,284 with 23,368 beneficiaries
- 2024-25 Target: Establish 17,000 new AWCCs
Financial Allocation & Disbursement
| Financial Year | Allocated (Cr) | Released (Cr) |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | ₹35 | ₹4.68 |
| 2023-24 | ₹85 | ₹64.15 |
| 2024-25 | ₹150.11 | ₹43.66* |
As of December 19, 2024
Legislative & Inter-Ministerial Support
- Complies with: Labour Laws, Maternity Benefit Act
- Interlinked with: ICDS, Poshan 2.0, Health Departments
- Digital Monitoring: States/UTs to develop portals to track Maternity Act compliance by establishments
