First ChildDay care Centre at Women's Training College in Patna

                             

PATNA: Teachers and students of Women's Training College, a constituent unit of Patna University (PU), won't have to bunk their classes now if their maids do not turn up and there is no one else to look after their children at home.

The college has become the first institution in the state with a baby care centre for the children of its teachers and other employees. Students with children, too, can avail themselves of the centre's  benefit.
This centre was inaugurated here by art and culture minister Sukhda Pandey at a colourful function held on Tuesday. As many as seven babies of college staff were seen playing with toys at the beautifully decorated centre on the first day itself.

Eulogizing the efforts of the college in setting up the much-needed baby care centre, Pandey said that the college staff would not worry now about the proper care of their children during their working hours. She narrated her own difficulties in rearing up her two daughters while studying in college. The minister pleaded for opening of such centres in every girls' institution in the state.

Social welfare minister Parveen Amanullah appreciated the idea of setting up of such a centre in educational institutions and hoped that women would now perform their duties more sincerely. If women start working with enthusiasm and dedication, the state is bound to prosper, she added.

PU vice-chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh said that though the concept of baby care centre at the work places of women is not new for the corporate sector and various developed institutions, it is quite innovative for a college in the city. Other colleges of PU would certainly emulate this idea soon. He also pleaded for making it mandatory to set up such centres at all such places where there is an appreciable number of women workers.

College principal Jessie Modi pointed out that the UGC has provided a sum of Rs 2 lakh for setting up this centre. Such centre has become a necessity now, as the concept of joint families is waning. This centre would ensure regular presence of faculty members and students, she added. A lively skit depicting the importance of baby care centre was also presented by the college students on the occasion.