The Maharashtra government has announced the 'Palna Yojana', a major relief for working women. This scheme will be implemented under the guidance of Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare. The objective of this scheme is to provide a safe and nutritious environment for children aged 6 months to 6 years of working mothers.
Under this scheme, children will receive breakfast in the morning, lunch, and nutritious meals in the evening. Breakfast will include milk, eggs, or bananas, and there will also be provisions for regular health check-ups, vaccinations, and supplementary nutrition. Early stimulation for young children and preschool education for the age group of 3 to 6 years will be available.
In the first phase in the state, 345 daycare centers will be started. The funding for this scheme will be raised in a 60:40 ratio by the central and state governments. After the central government granted approval in February 2024, the state decided to implement it in October 2024. These centers will provide services for 26 days a month and 7.5 hours daily. Each center will accommodate 25 children.
The qualification for a caretaker is passing the twelfth grade, and for an assistant, it is passing the tenth grade. The caretaker will receive a stipend of 5500 rupees, while the assistant will receive 3000 rupees. Anganwadi caretakers and assistants will be given allowances of 1500 and 750 rupees, respectively. Minister Aditi Tatkare stated that this scheme will provide job opportunities for mothers and a safe environment for children. This scheme, which aims at women's empowerment and the holistic development of children, will prove to be significant.