Nurture your future

The New Delhi-based Forum for Creche and Childcare Services (FOCUS), a network of 47 organisations, has launched a campaign to highlight the need for childcare support for women working in the unorganised sector. According to FOCUS, 60 million children belonging to women in this sector need daycare facilities, while the government -supported schemes reach barely 300,000. "Intervention in the early years is critical because it shapes the physical, mental, social and emotional development of the child," said FOCUS member, Devika Singh. Part of FOCUS's agenda is bringing the issue to the notice of all national and state-level political parties. The group seeks to bring about the inclusion of a policy on the young child in manifestoes of political parties for the forthcoming elections.