The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), a Central Government-sponsored social welfare scheme, has begun establishing crèches in 18 anganwadi centres in the district.

They are intended to help working women, especially those working in the informal sector, who can leave their children in these crèches free of cost.

The crèches will take care of children below two years.

At present, many of the women were either forced to leave their jobs or leave their children at private crèches which prove to be a drain on their finances, the official sources told The Hindu here on Monday.

This is part of a nation-wide initiative of the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development.

The Central Government has sanctioned funds for constructing additional rooms for the crèches, which began functioning on Monday.

They are now temporarily functioning from the existing rooms. Already, several working women have begun leaving their children in these crèches.

They will remain open between 8.30 a.m. and 4 p.m. The children will be provided snacks and toys.

According to sources, anganwadis have been drawn from all but two of the total 18 blocks of the district.

The ICDS will also recruit a crèche worker-cum-caretaker and a helper-cum-cook for each of these centres.

The ICDS operated as many as 1,697 anganwadis in the district.

They are currently providing weekly supplementary nutritional packets to as many as 46,535 children aged between six months and three years, and mid-day meals to 32,025 children aged between two and five years.

They provide nutritional support to 19,594 pregnant and lactating women and 37,229 adolescent girls. The anganwadi centres also conduct immunisation, health check-ups and referral services.