Punjab has made the registration for private play schools and creches running in the state mandatory by adopting regulatory guidelines of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). The decision in this regard has been taken by Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Mrs. Aruna Chaudhary, while presiding over a high level meeting of the State Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) council.Mrs. Chaudhary informed, 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 regulatory guidelines of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) in letter and spirit to further regulate private play schools and crèches, have been taken unanimously during the meeting of the ECCE council", she said, adding that now, no play school or crèche will be allowed to function without registration.The Cabinet Minister informed that complying with these guidelines, data banks would be created at these institutions at 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.The Cabinet Minister also highlighted the initiatives of the Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh 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.During the meeting, Chairman Punjab State Children Rights Protection Commission Rajinder Singh, Principal Secretary Social Security, Women and Child Development Raji P. Shrivastava, Secretary School Education Krishan Kumar, Additional Secretary (Finance) Surinder Kaur Waraich, Director-cum-Special Secretary Social Security, Women & Child Development Vipul Ujwal and Joint Secretary Vimmi Bhullar, Director Family Welfare Dr. Andesh Kang, Director Planning Rajwant Kaur, Assistant Director Health Services Dr. Sukhdeep Kaur, Dr. Deepika Vij from PAU, Deputy Director Social Security Rupinder Kaur, DPOs A.S. Bhullar and Sukhdeep Singh and Assistant Professor Maj. Neelam K was also present.