Govt. Child Care Centres lend a helping hand to working mothers

By S.T. Ravikumar

The last few years have seen a significant rise in the women workforce who have made their mark in the workplace and have also earned their spots in leadership roles.

With a rise in the standard of living, many families feel a major jolt as soon as they set their steps into family planning. The woman progressing and peaking in their careers are the most challenged when it comes to striking a balance between managing the office and the home.

This situation further intensifies when a woman has to handle the birth and upbringing of her child. The increasing phenomenon of nuclear families has only complicated issues further.  However, as a solution to this problem, the Women and Child Development Department has opened Child Care Centres that take care of children aged below 6 years between 9.30 am and 6 pm.

These centres are situated at the new Deputy Commissioner’s Office premises in Siddarthanagar, Zilla Panchayat premises, Hunsur Taluk Panchayat premises and Nanjangud Sthree Shakti Bhavan. They function as full-fledged crèches taking care of every child’s needs keeping in mind their growing years.

The centres have been tastefully painted and have been designed in such a way that children feel at home and at the same time they can learn new things. Play articles and toys have been provided and there are facilities for children to sleep, including cradles for children below 6 months.

A free facility

Free nutritious food and milk are being provided at the child care centres and one Anganwadi teacher and one assistant have been appointed at each centre to take care of the children. Working mothers who have children between 6 months and 6 years of age can leave their kids here from morning till evening and they can take them home while heading back from work.

Once the children are left at the child care centres, all their needs are taken care of including food, entertainment and sleep. These centres have begun functioning from July first week and each centre has over 10 to 15 children. Pure drinking water, toilets and a clean environment have been provided along with facilities for children to learn the alphabet  and numbers.

There are plenty of indoor play items and learning materials. Importantly, they are safe with a teacher and two assistants for their care. The facility is open to working women from both Government and private sector and industries. The Women and Child Welfare Department bears all the costs and working mothers do not have to pay anything here.

Hostel for working women

This apart, the Women and Child Development Department provides hostel facilities where working women belonging to SC/ST and minority communities, specially-abled, unmarried, divorcees, widows, married women away from family and those separated from husbands may stay. Women working in unorganised sectors, industries, garments shops and malls can avail of the hostel facilities.

The safe and secure hostel facility is being provided for women in Koorgalli and Hootagalli Industrial Areas. The annual income of women must not exceed Rs. 50,000. Those who wish to stay in the hostel must pay a nominal fee of Rs. 1,200 and there will be two women in one room.

Department Deputy  Director Basavaraju told Star of Mysore that women can stay in a safe environment in the hostels that have security and are under CCTV surveillance. “Single women who find it difficult to manage alone in the city by paying rent and transport charges or those who come from far-flung villages where reaching home after work is a daunting task can stay in the hostels,” he said.

For details, call Child Development Programme Officers

Mysuru Rural                       —                   Manjula V. Patil           —       Mob: 94481-85611

Nanjangud Taluk                —                   T.N. Kavitha                  —       Mob: 96829-62676

Hunsur Taluk                        —                   S. Rashmi                       —       Mob: 99166-95860