The Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) is hosting the Palna National Programme on Anganwadi-cum-Crèches (AWCC) on December 21, 2023 at Vigyan Bhawan. The inaugural session will be presided over by Smriti Zubin Irani, Union Minister of Women and Child Development and Minority Affairs. The Ministry of Women and Child Development has extended childcare services through Anganwadi cum Crèche (AWCC) under the Palna sub-component of Mission Shakti in a first-of-its-kind manner.

National Programme on Anganwadi–cum-Crèches (AWCC)

The government has expanded childcare services through Anganwadi cum Crèche (AWCC) as part of the Palna sub-component of Mission Shakti.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development has established a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the administration and execution of the AWCC scheme to enable states and districts to operationalise Palna.
AWCC aims to provide high-quality crèche services in a safe and secure setting for children aged 6 months to 6 years.

Date of inauguration: 21st December 2023
Place: Vigyan Bhawan.
Nodal Agency: Ministry of Women and Child Development

What is Anganwadi?

Anganwadi facilities are the world's greatest childcare institutions, committed to providing children with vital care and assistance.
The name 'Anganwadi' means “courtyard shelter” in English.
The Indian government established these in 1975 as part of the Integrated Child Development Services programme to reduce child hunger and malnutrition.
It is mostly aimed towards youngsters aged 0 to 6.

Integrated Child Development Services

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), which began on October 2, 1975, is the only significant national programme that addresses the needs of children under the age of six.
It aims to provide an integrated package of services for young children, such as supplemental nutrition, health care, and pre-school education.
The programme also includes adolescent girls, pregnant women, and nursing mothers.

What is Palna?

Palna is intended to offer a safe and secure environment for the children of working women to function as a catalyst for increasing female labour force participation.
Palna is a Mission Shakti sub-scheme.
It was adopted for all States/UTs under the Ministry of Women and Child Development to provide daycare facilities and protection to children.

About Mission Shakti

Mission Shakti is the Government of India's Integrated Women Empowerment Programme.
It was launched as an Umbrella Scheme for Women's Safety, Security, and Empowerment, with implementation dates from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
'Sambal' and 'Samarthya' are the two sub-schemes of Mission Shakti.
While the “Sambal” sub-scheme is for women's protection and security, the “Samarthya” sub-scheme is for women's empowerment.