In a major decision, Punjab Government on Tuesday made the registration mandatory for the private play schools and crèches, running across the State.
The decision to make it compulsory for the play schools and crèches to get themselves registered, taken by the state’s Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Aruna Chaudhary while presiding over a high-level meeting of the state Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Council, were in line with the regulatory guidelines of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).
“Periodical monitoring mechanism to check private play schools running across the State is the critical necessity so as to ensure the proper health and mental development of our tiny-tots.
Hence, the decision to adopt the NCPCR’s regulatory guidelines in letter and spirit to further regulate private play schools and crèches, have been taken unanimously during the meeting of the ECCE council,” said the Minister adding that now, no play school or crèche will be allowed to function without registration.
The Minister said that complying with these guidelines, data banks would be created at these institutions at the state level on a dedicated portal and uniformity will be ensured in curriculum, which would be decided by the Council and the same will be implemented across the State.
Stressing upon the need of psychological counseling of children and women during these trying times, she said that the orientation program through Anganwari workers and helpers will continue in future.
Chaudhary also highlighted the Punjab Government’s initiatives to further empower women by ensuring 33 percent reservation in government jobs and 50 percent reservation in elections of Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies. Besides, a free bus facility to all women irrespective of their age has also been provided to them by the state government, she added.