Palna Scheme in India: How to Find an Anganwadi-Cum-Crèche
Learn who can use Palna crèches, how to ask for a nearby Anganwadi-cum-Crèche, what to check about hours and enrolment, and how the government service relates to an employer’s separate crèche duties.
In this guide
What is the Palna scheme, and who can use a crèche?
Palna is the Ministry of Women and Child Development’s crèche component under Mission Shakti. It provides care through Anganwadi-cum-Crèches for children aged six months to six years. The Ministry’s current FAQ says the service is for all mothers, whether or not they are employed. As of 31 March 2026, the Ministry reported 3,130 operational Anganwadi-cum-Crèches; local openings, places and operating hours vary by State and area.
Use the service to ask about safe day care near home or work
Palna crèches are intended to support children’s care and development and help mothers take up work. The Ministry lists sleeping space, early stimulation for children under three, preschool education for ages three to six, supplementary nutrition, health checks and immunisation convergence. Ask what this specific centre currently provides and during which hours.
Check the child’s age and the local operating schedule
The scheme focuses on children from six months to six years. State or Union Territory authorities set hours to meet local need, with guidance that should facilitate working mothers. A centre’s posted schedule may not match a particular shift, commute or seasonal job, so confirm actual opening, closing, holidays and attendance rules.
Treat the published centre count as a dated national figure
The Ministry reported 3,130 Anganwadi-cum-Crèches operational on 31 March 2026. That number is not a directory of vacancies in your neighbourhood. Confirm that the local centre is open, has a place for your child and can meet any disability, health, feeding or language needs before changing work or care arrangements.
| Nearby Anganwadi-cum-Crèche | Age and vacancy | Hours and days | Records or fees to confirm | Safety contact and review date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
How can you find and ask for a Palna place?
Start with the local Anganwadi Worker
Ask the Anganwadi Worker whether the centre is an Anganwadi-cum-Crèche under Palna, whether it currently accepts children and how to contact the Creche Worker or Helper. If the answer is unclear, ask the supervisor or Child Development Project Officer (CDPO), then the district Women and Child Development office.
Ask for the exact enrolment requirements before sharing documents
Request the State or district’s current form, age proof, authorised pickup rules, any fee, opening hours and contact for a denied or delayed application. Requirements can differ in implementation. Give personal or child records only to an identified official channel and ask why a particular document is needed; do not send identity documents to an unknown number or group chat.
Confirm the practical details around a work shift
Explain your hours, travel time, weekly rest day and emergency contact. Ask whether late pickup, irregular attendance, shift work, a child’s disability or prescribed feeding needs can be accommodated. If the service hours do not fit, ask the district office about another authorised centre or local childcare option rather than relying on an unverified listing.
How can families and centres make childcare safer and fairer?
Ask how arrival, pickup and emergencies are managed
Confirm how staff record a child’s arrival and authorised pickup person, who calls if a child becomes unwell, how injuries are reported, and where emergency contacts are kept. Share allergies, medicines or disability-related needs through the centre’s official process and ask who can see that information.
Check daily care against the child’s needs
Ask about meals, drinking water, sleep, toilets, play, supervision and how staff communicate with children. Arrange a gradual introduction if possible. A mother can raise a concern with the Creche Worker, Anganwadi Worker, supervisor or CDPO and ask for a dated response; record repeated safety or access problems factually.
Keep Palna separate from workplace legal duties
A community Palna place may help a family, but it does not automatically settle whether an employer must provide a crèche under the Maternity Benefit Act. That duty depends on the law’s coverage and current rules for the establishment. If you are told a government crèche replaces an employer’s obligation, ask a labour department or legal-aid service to explain your specific case.
Palna crèche services: FAQs
Do I have to be employed to use a Palna crèche?
The Ministry’s current Palna FAQ says the facility is to be provided to all mothers irrespective of employment status. Local centre capacity and implementation still need to be confirmed.
What age group does Palna cover?
The Ministry says the scheme focuses on children from six months to six years. Ask the local centre about its age check and enrolment process.
Is every Palna centre open for the same hours?
No. State and Union Territory governments set timings according to local need, with the stated aim of facilitating working mothers. Confirm the specific centre’s hours, attendance rules and holidays.
Does using Palna remove my employer’s crèche responsibility?
Not automatically. Palna is a government childcare service; employer duties under the Maternity Benefit Act are a separate legal question. Check the current law and get labour or legal-aid advice for your workplace.
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Sources and publication record
Draft prepared 27 September 2026; domain, legal and human Hindi editorial review pending · Sources checked .
- Palna scheme: Anganwadi-cum-Crèches, services and operating guidanceMinistry of Women and Child Development, Government of India
- Maternity Benefit Act, 1961India Code, Legislative Department
- Free legal services and National Legal Aid Helpline 15100National Legal Services Authority