The Women and Child Development (WCD) Ministry is formulating a national creche policy which will be applicable for private, government as well as the unorganised sector.
In the reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, WCD Minister Maneka Gandhi said, "The government has set up a Working Group for formulating comprehensive guidelines for National Programme for Creche and Day Care Facilities for children and its funding pattern etc under the chairpersonship of Secretary, WCD."
The proposal envisages creche facilities for children up to the age of six years. Apart from sanitation and drinking water facilities, there is a plan to provide healthcare services like immunisation and supplementary nutrition.
"The Working Group will also deliberate upon incentives to be provided to implementing agencies," Maneka said in the reply.
Following Maneka's suggestion, the Labour Ministry has decided to revise maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks under the new Maternity Benefit Bill pending for current session of Parliament.
