Haveri opens daycare centres for working mothers

Haveri: Working women, who are also new mothers, face difficulties managing childcare due to limited facilities. The issue was acute in garment factories and govt departments. To address this, the district administration opened four daycare centres to help female employees at the district administration office, women's police station, Devaraj Urs Bhavan, and garment factories in Hanumarahalli of Shiggaon taluk."As families are getting smaller and both parents are working, managing children is also getting tougher. The situation becomes more challenging in developing cities like Haveri, where childcare facilities are limited. Daycare centres centres cater to children above 6 months to 6 years old, with each centre accommodating up to 25 children. The district administration hires NGOs on a contract basis, as daycares. Each centre employs two women as caretakers. The centres operate between 9.30am to 6pm, and provides the children drinking water, non-toxic toys, cradles, and high-tech beds for sleeping.Children were provided with snacks, milk, and other facilities. They received liquid food like porridge in the morning, light snacks in the afternoon, and again in the evening.The daycare centres help working mothers in the Haveri district administration, who face challenges leaving their children behind, while they come for work. "On-site daycare centres help increase women employees' concentration and productivity, said Vijay Mahantesh Danammanavar, Haveri DC."Leaving children at daycare centres feels like leaving them at home. The caretakers take good care of the children. We can work in the office without any stress after leaving our child here. Since the daycare centres started, our stress has reduced significantly," says Pooja, a female employee at the district administration office.QuoteThe daycare centre provides a chance to meet the children throughout the day with less separation anxiety. It allows women employees to commute to work with their children and spend lunch and break time together if they chose.Ruchi Bindal, CEO, Zilla Panchayat, Haveri