Tata Trusts helps launch first community creche in Gadchiroli's Etapalli

Gadchiroli district's Etapalli block on Thursday saw the launch of its first community creche under the Childhood Nutrition and Development Initiative. It has been set up by Tata Trusts along with the Gadchiroli district administration and Mobile Creches for Working Mothers Children.

The initiative is being run under a memorandum of understanding between Tata Trusts, the Gadchiroli district administration and the Maharashtra government's Department of Women and Child Development. Gadchiroli District Collector Avishyant Panda attended the inauguration as chief guest.

The initiative aims to strengthen nutrition, care and early development for children below three years of age, particularly for families living in remote and underserved parts of the district.

The programme has been launched during Poshan Maah and will focus on nutrition, health, hygiene and development during the crucial early years of a child's life. The community creches will provide young children a safe and stimulating environment.

Women will also benefit, as access to reliable childcare will allow them to better manage livelihood work and other responsibilities.

The Etapalli creche is the first of a total of 45 community creches planned across Gadchiroli district. The rest will be launched in a phased manner over the coming months, extending nutrition and child development facilities to more households.

Gadchiroli is mainly a tribal district, where the Gond and Madia Gond communities make up about 39 percent of the population. Etapalli block has more than 197 villages, many of them located in remote and forested areas, making it difficult to deliver basic facilities to families there.

At the inauguration, District Collector Avishyant Panda said the initiative would ensure children in Etapalli have access to healthcare, adequate and diverse nutrition, and safe early care regardless of their geographical location.

"This initiative is an important step towards ensuring that every child in Etapalli, no matter where they live, can access healthcare, adequate and diverse nutrition, and safe, stimulating early care. Through this partnership with Tata Trusts, we want to strengthen the foundation for the future of our youngest citizens," Panda said.

Jayeeta Chaudhuri, Head-Nutrition at Tata Trusts, said the organisation has long supported early childhood development in rural and tribal areas through community creche services.

Chaudhuri emphasised the importance of the first 1,000 days of a child's life, which are critical for development, cognitive ability and overall health. She said preventing malnutrition during this period is essential, as the effects of stunted growth can last a long time.

According to Chaudhuri, the initiative will bring safe childcare and essential nutrition to families, connect children to government facilities such as anganwadis, and help refer children who need medical assistance in time. It will also give mothers greater freedom to manage livelihood work and other responsibilities.

Through this partnership with the Gadchiroli district administration and Mobile Creches, Tata Trusts aims to build a sustainable, community-based model that delivers better outcomes for children and women and can serve as an example for wider implementation.

Sumitra Mishra, CEO of Mobile Creches for Working Mothers Children, said her organisation has for more than five decades worked to ensure no child is left behind due to lack of good care and nutrition.

"The Etapalli creche reflects our commitment to working with Tata Trusts and the local administration to bring the same quality of early care and nutrition to even the most remote corners of the country," Mishra said.