Palna Scheme

The Palna Scheme was introduced by the Ministry of Women and Child Development under the Samarthya Vertical of Mission Shakti, a centrally sponsored initiative aimed at providing essential services to women and children. The scheme primarily focuses on ensuring the well-being and development of children, particularly from 6 months to 6 years, by offering quality crèche facilities.

Objectives of the Palna Scheme:

• Crèche Facilities: To provide safe, secure, and quality daycare facilities for children aged 6 months to 6 years.

• Nutritional Support: Ensuring that children receive proper nutrition to support their physical and cognitive growth.

• Health & Cognitive Development: Facilitating activities that contribute to the health, cognitive development, and early education of children.

• Growth Monitoring & Immunization: Regular monitoring of children's growth and administering necessary immunizations.

The Palna Scheme offers these facilities to all mothers, whether they are employed or not, ensuring equal access for all families.

Types of Crèches under Palna:

1. Standalone Crèches: Dedicated centers that offer daycare and developmental services.

2. Anganwadi-cum-Crèches (AWCCs): Integrated centers that combine traditional Anganwadi services with crèche facilities.

Guidelines:

• Flexible Timings: The crèche timings are designed to be flexible, depending on the local requirements.

  • Crèches must be open for 26 days a month.

  • Operational hours: 7.5 hours a day, matching the work schedules of mothers in the area.

• State/UT Flexibility: The timings and local needs can be decided by individual State/UT governments as per the guidelines.

Funding Structure:

• General States: The funding is split in a 60:40 ratio between the Centre and the States.

• North Eastern & Special Category States: The funding ratio is 90:10.

• UTs with Legislature: The funding ratio is 60:40.

• UTs without Legislature: The Centre provides 100% assistance.

Services under the Palna Scheme:

• Daycare Facilities: Includes sleeping arrangements for children.

• Early Stimulation: Specialized programs for children below 3 years to enhance early development.

• Pre-school Education: Aimed at children between 3 to 6 years to prepare them for formal schooling.

• Supplementary Nutrition: Nutrition services, locally sourced, to support children’s health and development.

• Growth Monitoring: Regular tracking of children’s growth parameters.

• Health Check-up & Immunization: Ensuring children’s health through periodic medical check-ups and vaccination drives.

The Palna Scheme is a significant step in ensuring that working mothers have access to affordable, safe, and high-quality childcare services. It also enhances the health and developmental milestones of young children, helping to bridge the gaps in early childhood education and nutrition. By offering flexible daycare options, the scheme supports mothers across various socio-economic backgrounds, promoting a balance between work and childcare while also contributing to women empowerment.