In lieu of Creche Campaign, dialogue with stakeholders on the protection and childcare requirements of the Young Child

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Bharat Chauhan Delhi, Neenv Delhi FORCES organized an event in Shahabad Dairy to raise the issue of
young children’s safety and security, and demand for provision of crèches.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Ram Chandra, the area MLA, promised the community members that he
will ensure a crèche is opened and has also assured that he will foreground the issue in the upcoming
Rajya Sabha session. Addressing the gathering, Shri Jai Bhagwan Upkar, Councilor, pointed out that he
has already sent a demand letter for crèche set-up to the Women and Child Department (WCD), and will
continue doing everything possible to ensure the same. With the pressing issue of need for crèches, Shri
Thaneshwar Adigaur, Member, Delhi Labour Welfare Board, has also assured that he will bring this issue
to the attention of the Board.
One of the preliminary sessions included screening of short film ‘Humein Bhi Kuchh Kehna Hai’, which
highlights the situation of under sixes in urban slums of Delhi. Following this, ten mothers of children
under six, who work in various informal sector occupations, and a twelve year old child, expressed their
miseries in front of the various government functionaries.
Geeta Devi, a resident of Holambi Kalan said, “I am a hawker, and I have two small children. Whenever I
go for work, I leave my children at the neighbor’s. I am always worried about their wellbeing. If childcare
center is opened in my neighborhood, then I could concentrate well on my work and be relieved that my


children are being well taken care of.”
“Both my parents go out to work, while my ten year old sister and I stay at home, taking care of our
younger siblings and doing all the housework”, said the twelve year old.
This situation can only improve through our collective actions.
Other notable attendees were, District Child Protection Officer Ritu and Nirmal Kishore from DALSA.

Demands:
 Provision of government-run crèches
 Universalization of maternity benefits
 Recognition of childcare work as decent work

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