Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Shri Jayant Chaudhary, inaugurated a modern daycare facility at Kaushal Bhawan, the headquarters of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) in New Delhi. Spanning an area of 600 square metres, the creche accommodates children of ministry employees aged between 6 months and 6 years. Equipped with trained caregivers, age-appropriate learning resources, and child-safe amenities, this initiative aims to support working parents, particularly women professionals. It aligns with the central government’s institutional mandate to foster inclusive, employee-centric, and gender-balanced public workplaces.
Features of the Kaushal Bhawan Daycare Facility
The newly established creche incorporates specialized design elements and operational standards to ensure comprehensive early childhood care.
- Target Age Bracket: The facility serves infants and young children from 6 months up to 6 years of age, covering critical early development phases.
- Spatial Design: The 600 square metre area includes dedicated zones for resting, active play, and foundational early learning.
- Human Resources: The ministry has deployed certified childcare professionals, early educators, and support staff to maintain optimal caregiver-to-child ratios.
- Safety Protocols: The premises feature round-the-clock closed-circuit television (CCTV) monitoring, child-proof architectural fittings, and strict entry-exit visitor controls.
Legislative Framework Governing Workplace Creches
The establishment of this facility reflects statutory obligations detailed under Indian labor and welfare laws.
The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017
This amendment introduced mandatory creche guidelines for establishments across public and private sectors.
- Establishment Threshold: Every organization employing 50 or more employees must set up a dedicated creche facility within a prescribed distance from the office premises.
- Workplace Visits: The statute permits female employees to visit the daycare facility four times a day, which includes their regular rest intervals.
- Information Disclosure: Employers must explicitly inform prospective female workers about the availability of creche amenities at the time of their initial appointment.
National Minimum Standards and Guidelines for Creches
The Ministry of Women and Child Development formulated these benchmarks to standardize institutional childcare.
- Space Optimization: The guidelines mandate a minimum space of 10 to 12 square feet per child to prevent overcrowding and ensure proper ventilation.
- Operational Hours: Creches must operate for 8 to 10 hours daily to match standard office shifts and flexible working hours.
- Health and Nutrition: Facilities must provide clean drinking water, first-aid kits, routine monthly health check-ups, and a hygienic kitchen space for preparing or storing meals.
Broader Policy Links to Early Childhood Care
The creche initiative at Kaushal Bhawan intersects with multiple national schemes focused on gender empowerment and child nutrition.
| Scheme / Policy | Nodal Ministry | Core Focus Area |
| Palna Scheme | Ministry of Women and Child Development | Provides funding to run high-quality creches for children of working women under the umbrella of Mission Shakti. |
| National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 | Ministry of Education | Emphasizes Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) for children below 6 years to build foundational literacy. |
| Mission Shakti (Samarthya Sub-scheme) | Ministry of Women and Child Development | Drives women’s economic empowerment by creating social infrastructure like working women hostels and urban creches. |
IASPOINT Booster Facts for UPSC
- The Factories Act, 1948: Section 48 of this Act historically mandated creches in factories employing more than 30 women workers, making it one of the earliest Indian laws to address workplace childcare.
- Building and Other Construction Workers Act, 1996: This law requires temporary creche facilities on construction sites where more than 50 female building workers are tracking employment.
- Kaushal Bhawan Green Rating: Kaushal Bhawan, where the daycare is located, holds a 5-Star GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) rating for its eco-friendly architectural design, solar power integration, and water recycling systems.