Delhi government's Women and Child Development Department, which was issued a notice by the DCW over "delay" in construction of creches in slums in north-east and south districts, in its reply has cited "bureaucratic processing" as reasons behind it.
"The department was in the process of recruitment of anganwadi workers for 253 new anganwadi centres and formation of a panel for 95 ICDS projects. For recruitment of AWW file was sent to Services Department for their comments on the process.
"This process was taking a long time. Hence, the said proposal was put up again for consideration of the minister and WCD minister gave the requisite approval to engage creche workers from the old existing panel of the respective ICDS projects and accordingly these workers are being engaged for angandwadi cum-creches," Special Director, WCD, Sanjeev Kumar said.
The department, in a meeting held on May 2, issued necessary orders to the officers concerned to purchase the material required for setting up angandwadi cum-creches.
In the same meeting orders have been issued for providing nutritious snacks to children, as suggested by experts.
The department has also informed the Commission that an MOU has been signed between it and NGO Mobile creches to act as the technical resource organisation for providing support and developing training and technical support to ensure smooth implementation of the programme.
The department also said that necessary steps to roll out the Anganwadi-cum-creche programme have been taken and operationalisation of some of these facilities will begin from May 13.
The proposed timeline for implementation of 30 Anganwadi Centres and creches on a pilot basis in Delhi was January.
"The DCW feels that construction and proper implementation of creche programme in Delhi is important in the wake increasing child rapes in Delhi," DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal said.
