NHRC notice to govt over improper conditions at day care centres

National Human Rights Commission has issued a notice to the Centre over alleged improper conditions at various creches across the country, asserting it was time to bring standardisation and certification for day care centres based on stringent norms.

The NHRC has taken suo motu cognisance of the condition of creches and day care centres following a media report about the alleged inhuman and barbaric treatment meted out to a 10-month-old baby by the caretaker of a creche, where she was being dropped by her parents in Kharghar area of Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra.

In this context, the Commission has also taken note of an editorial comment an English daily, wherein, quoting experts, it was remarked that "children left at day care centres are at risk because the government does not have any regulation over this sector".

The NHRC on Monday said it has asked the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development through its Secretary to share with it, the exiting guidelines or regulations, if any, governing this area of child protection, and has been given six weeks to respond.

"It is probably about time that standardisation along with a certification process for day care centres based on stringent norms are put in place," it said in a statement.