From correspondents in Delhi, India, 12:32 PM IST

The government has earmarked Rs.100 crore (Rs.1 billion) in the 2009-10 budget to build day care centres for children of working women, a statement from the women and child development ministry said Thursday.

Of the amount, Rs.10 crore (Rs.100 million) is allocated specifically for more creches to be opened in the northeastern states.

Under the Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme, day care services are provided to children upto the age of six and belonging to economically weaker background, the release.

For those women whose family income does not exceed Rs.12,000 per month, their children can be sent to the creche at a charge of Rs.20 per month.

Among the day care services provided to the children are pre-school education, food, immunization and health check ups.

Under the scheme, there are 22,038 creches in the country and the focus now is to open more such centres in the tribal areas and backward districts, the statement added.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)