Jharkhand State Council for Child Welfare (JSCCW), which runs crèches for BPL children in the districts of Ranchi, Dhanbad and Khunti, has decided to up the count by 15 to 20.

The initiative is being taken under the Rajiv Gandhi National Crèche Scheme with ample support from the state social welfare department.

Jyoti Bajaj, joint secretary of JSCCW that functions under Indian Council for Child Welfare, discussed the matter with Governor Syed Ahmed at a meeting on July 18.

“We had elaborate discussions with the governor, who took immense interest in the project and has assured all help. Our next round of meeting is on July 21,” she said.

Bajaj added that they were already running 40 crèches, all opened this year, in Ranchi, Dhanbad and Khunti. “We are planning to come up with additional 15 to 20 crèches for the benefit of BPL children who are otherwise left to fend for themselves while their parents are out earning a living,” she said.

Each crèche will have the capacity to host 25 children, mainly of daily wage labourers, fish-sellers, domestic maids and vegetable vendors, in the age group 1-5 years. The children can stay there from 9 am till 2pm. They will also be provided nutritious food like khichdi, biscuits, beaten rice and seasonal fruits. The entire expenses will be borne by JSCCW in collaboration with the social welfare department.

According to the plan, the maximum number of proposed crèches will be opened in Ranchi followed by Dhanbad and Khunti. “We have not planned as to how many crèches will be opened in all three districts, but Ranchi will get the maximum number,” an official informed.

In Ranchi, the crèches will come up in Kanke, Morabadi, Bariatu, Tiril Basti and Kokar among others.

M.K. Tah, executive member of JSCCW, said they were convincing vegetable vendors, rag-pickers, fishsellers and slum dwellers to put their children in such crèches so that they don’t stay in unhygienic conditions after their parents leave home to work.

A few years ago, the child welfare council opened 200 crèches across the state, but all of them were shut down because of financial hurdles. But the members are now reviving the project with adequate funds and of course, support from the governor.

JSCCW was established in 2001 under the chairmanship of governor and the first lady of the state, who works for the welfare of underprivileged children.