WE THE PEOPLE
Breaking up of Joint Family System has led to Mushroom Growth of Crèches in Kashmir
Hence People Urge Authorities to keep them under Surveillance to minimize their Negative impact
By: MNS/ Makhdoomi
Srinagar: Day in and day out, Kashmir valley has been witnessing many people engaging in materialistic pursuits to become millionaires overnight. They seem to be ignorant and unaware of the sufferings general masses have undergone during last two decades. There has been mushroom growth of Private Coaching Centres, which have virtually turned into money-minting centres.
Now over the past few years, we have witnessed tremendous growth in the number of Crèches in the valley of Kashmir. These crèches are also known as day care centers in common terminology.
Frederick Douglass has rightly said, ‘It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men’. Off and on we see a considerable populace cutting apologetic figure of the proliferation of crèche culture or day care centers in Kashmir.
As a matter of fact, the need for child care services has been emphasized in the National Policy for Children, 1994, National Policy for Education, 1986 and National Policy for Empowerment of Women, 2001 and the National Plan of Action for Children, 2005. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on demand for grants for the year 2002-03 has also pointed out that all sections of the society should be allowed to avail the services of the crèches. Labor Legislations also contain provisions for child care facilities for women workers.
According to views on ground, Crèches are very well but we need well-organized superintendents at crèches and those who follow proper norms, instead of favouring the intake of infants and simply turning their institutions to mere commercial bodies should be avoided.
Adil Rasool, a social activist said, “The future of any nation lies in those tender hands of our children. Giving them the best possible upbringing is a responsibility for the society as a whole. With the increase of working mothers in the country, daycares are not giving enough support. We are also witnessing infants being sent to these crèches which is shocking. “
He further adds, “This evil can be avoided by refusing infants suckled by their mothers until they have reached the age of several months, when the risks are less; the crèches should require the mother to attend the crèche at least four times a week to see her child and the environment around, provided such attendance is compatible with her occupation. The risk of the children contracting contagious diseases may be minimized by establishing small crèches.”
The experts are calling upon the authorities to issue proper guidelines for managing the crèches in the Kashmir valley. They call for developing these centers in same way as developed by the progressive countries. It is worth mention out here that In developed countries, a child minder has to be registered and trained in the basics of childbearing otherwise it is considered unlawful. The ratio of the number of child to be minded per single child minder should also be small.
Asif Khan,a teacher said, “Taking a cue from developed countries, the courses can be developed and marketed to develop budding child minders who can ease the load of working mothers. I am sure every working mother in a nuclear family must be dreaming of the same. If efforts are made to create the situation like this, then I am sure that those dreams of developing quality day-care centers can be a definite reality very soon.”
The breaking up of joint family system in our part of the world and the increased trend of nuclear families, working women in dual career families need support in terms of quality, substitute, and care for their young children while they are at work makes these institutions even more significant.
The realities call upon the authorities to ensure proper framework for the functioning of these crèches.
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