Punjabhas made the registration for private play schools and crèches running in thestate mandatory by adopting regulatory guidelines of National Commission forProtection of Child Rights (NCPCR). The decision in this regard has been takenby Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Mrs. Aruna Chaudhary,while presiding over a high level meeting of the State Early Childhood Care andEducation (ECCE) council.
Mrs.Chaudhary informed, periodical monitoring mechanism to check private playschools running across the state, is the critical necessity so as to ensure theproper health and mental development of our tiny-tots.
"Hence,the decision to adopt regulatory guidelines of the National Commission forProtection of Child Rights (NCPCR) in letter and spirit to further regulateprivate play schools and crèches, have been taken unanimously during themeeting of the ECCE council", she said, adding that now, no play school orcrèche will be allowed to function without registration.
TheCabinet Minister informed that complying with these guidelines, data bankswould be created at these institutions at state level on a dedicated portal anduniformity will be ensured in curriculum, which would be decided by the counciland the same will be implemented across the state.
Stressingupon the need of psychological counseling of children and women during thesetrying times, she said that the orientation program through Anganwari workersand helpers will continue in future.
TheCabinet Minister also highlighted the initiatives of the Punjab Government ledby Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh to further empower women by ensuring 33percent reservation in government jobs and 50 percent reservation in electionsof Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies. Besides, a free busfacility to all women irrespective of their age has also been provided to themby the state government, she added.
Duringthe meeting, Chairman Punjab State Children Rights Protection CommissionRajinder Singh, Principal Secretary Social Security, Women and ChildDevelopment Raji P. Shrivastava, Secretary School Education Krishan Kumar,Additional Secretary (Finance) Surinder Kaur Waraich, Director-cum-SpecialSecretary Social Security, Women & Child Development Vipul Ujwal and JointSecretary Vimmi Bhullar, Director Family Welfare Dr. Andesh Kang, DirectorPlanning Rajwant Kaur, Assistant Director Health Services Dr. Sukhdeep Kaur,Dr. Deepika Vij from PAU, Deputy Director Social Security Rupinder Kaur, DPOsA.S. Bhullar and Sukhdeep Singh and Assistant Professor Maj. Neelam K was alsopresent.