Governor inaugurates Lok Bhavan creche in Chandigarh

With prior consent, parents, also working as the employees, will be able to monitor their children during operational hours, a step the administration says will enhance transparency and build trust in institutional childcare systems. Officials indicated that the feature will be gradually extended to other crèche centres across the city.

In a move aimed at strengthening childcare support for working parents, the Punjab governor and UT administrator, Gulab Chand Kataria, on Monday inaugurated a new crèche facility at Lok Bhavan in Sector 7 under the Palna Scheme of Mission Shakti.

The newly launched facility introduces a first-of-its-kind feature in Chandigarh—secure CCTV viewing access for parents and guardians. (HT File)

The newly launched facility introduces a first-of-its-kind feature in Chandigarh—secure CCTV viewing access for parents and guardians. With prior consent, parents, also working as the employees, will be able to monitor their children during operational hours, a step the administration says will enhance transparency and build trust in institutional childcare systems. Officials indicated that the feature will be gradually extended to other crèche centres across the city.

During the inauguration, Kataria also visited the POSHAN Vatika (nutrition garden) set up on the premises, participated in a tree plantation drive, and inspected the infrastructure and services at the crèche. He interacted with children and their parents, many of whom welcomed the initiative, stating that such facilities would significantly ease the challenges faced by working families, particularly women balancing professional and caregiving responsibilities.

Senior officials present at the event included secretary Harpreet Singh Sudan and director, social welfare, women and child development, Naveen (DANICS), along with departmental staff and beneficiaries.

The creche has been established under the PALNA Scheme, a centrally sponsored initiative under Mission Shakti that focuses on providing quality crèche services for children of working parents. In Chandigarh, a total of 210 Anganwadi-cum-Crèches (AWCCs) are currently operational. Of these, 18 have been developed as Model AWCCs, designed to serve as benchmark centres with enhanced standards of safety, hygiene, Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), and nutrition.

Officials said the Lok Bhavan facility reflects the administration’s broader push to strengthen early childhood care infrastructure in the city while integrating technology-driven solutions for improved monitoring and accountability.

With the introduction of CCTV-enabled access and upgraded facilities, the administration expects increased utilisation of crèche services and improved confidence among parents seeking reliable childcare options in Chandigarh.