DCW questions delay in setting up creches for poor

New Delhi:Taking suo-moto cognizance of a TOI report on lack of creche facilities for children in low income and slum settlements and delay in setting up of the facilties by the Delhi government, the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has issued a notice to the state’s Department of Women and Child Development (DWCD).
Emphasising the need for creches for safety of children, the DCW wanted to know the reason for the delay and the timeline for implementation within seven days.
The TOI report, which appeared on April 26, stated that there was a delay in the construction of 300 creches on a pilot basis under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) in the slums of north-east and south districts.
“The commission views this delay seriously, as creches can play an important role in ensuring safety of children in Delhi,” the notice issued to the director of DWCD stated.
The DCW has sought a report on the reasons for the delay in the pilot project, proposed timeline for implementation as well as steps undertaken thus far and the steps that will be undertaken by the DWCD to ensure rapid implementation of the project.
According to the TOI report, with no creche facility available and the government appearing to drag its feet on a project, slum-dwellers are a worried lot.
If the pilot project had gone as per the plan, the creches would have been functional by now. The deadline for the project was December, but nothing has moved on the ground as yet.
The rape of a five-year-old girl in the Kalyanpuri resettlement area again brought into focus the issue of safety of children in these congested areas.
The DWCD is headed by minister Sandeep Kumar, who could not be contacted as he is abroad on an official trip. Sources say that while financial approval for opening of the 300 creches is in place, the matter is stuck over the recruitment of additional staff required to run these centres.