Palna Scheme (Anganwadi-cum-Creche and Standalone Creches) under Mission Shakti

What is it?

Palna is the creche component of the 'Samarthya' sub-scheme of Mission Shakti, run by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. In 2022 the earlier National Creche Scheme was reorganised and renamed as Palna.

As families have become smaller and more women have taken up work, the older support of a joint family for looking after small children has weakened. Lack of day care is often the very reason a mother cannot take up work. Palna provides day-care creche facilities in a safe and secure environment for children aged 6 months to 6 years.

There are two kinds of creches under Palna: Standalone Creches, and Anganwadi-cum-Creches (AWCC) which are attached to an existing Anganwadi centre. A Standalone Creche has one Creche Worker and one Creche Helper. An Anganwadi-cum-Creche has a Creche Worker and a Creche Helper in addition to the existing Anganwadi Worker and Anganwadi Helper.

The services include day care with arrangements for sleep and rest, early stimulation activities for children below 3 years, pre-school education for children aged 3 to 6 years, supplementary nutrition sourced locally, growth monitoring, health check-ups and immunisation support, in convergence with Mission Poshan 2.0.

One point is often misunderstood: creche facilities under Palna are provided to all mothers irrespective of their employment status, so a mother does not have to be in a job to approach a creche. Creches are open for 26 days in a month and for seven and a half hours a day, with timings set locally to suit the working hours of most mothers in the area.

Potential benefit

The benefit is a day-care creche place for a child aged 6 months to 6 years rather than a cash payment. Services include day care with sleeping arrangements, early stimulation for children under 3, pre-school education for children aged 3 to 6, locally sourced supplementary nutrition, growth monitoring, health check-ups and immunisation support. Creches run 26 days a month for seven and a half hours a day, with timings fixed locally.

Who can apply?

Other conditions stated by the government

• For children aged 6 months to 6 years.
• Creche facilities under Palna are provided to all mothers, irrespective of their employment status.
• The scheme is implemented through State and UT governments, so the number and location of creches depends on what has been sanctioned in the district.

Eligibility information is provided for informational purposes only. Final eligibility and approval are determined by the relevant government authority.

How to apply

Approach the nearest Anganwadi centre or Anganwadi-cum-Creche, or the Standalone Creche operating in the area, since Palna is delivered through the State or UT government using the Anganwadi network. The Creche Worker operates under the supervision of the Anganwadi worker and handles admission, daily care, feeding and liaison with the ASHA or Primary Health Centre for health check-ups and referrals.

Where to apply: offline

Deadline

No fixed deadline. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.