The growing trend of nuclear or small families has added more responsibility for parenting, especially to working parents. Officials from the National Commission for Women and Children (NCWC) say this is a result of socio-economic development in the country. To address this, NCWC has, therefore, started establishing child crèches since 2015 under the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Project.
The NCWC recently inaugurated two more child crèches in collaboration with Thimphu Thromde and Centenary Farmers Market (CFM) in Thimphu. The crèche inaugurated at the Thimphu Thromde office will cater to 17 children of officials working at the thromde.
“We have trained caregivers here to look after the children from morning to evening. Therefore I hope the parents can concentrate more on their work and bring more progress. I know they can do well because they will not have to worry about their children now,” Kinlay Dorjee, the Thimphu Thrompon, said.
NCWC officials said their main objective is to create a conducive working environment for working parents and to provide support towards care and development of the child.
“In the past, people practiced the system of extended families. They all lived together. But now with socio-economic development, many prefer to live separately. And also women now actively participate in developmental activities. This leads to the problem of babysitting,” Tshewang Lhamo, the Program Officer of NCWC, said.
More than ten vendors at the Centenary Farmers Market have also registered for the service of child crèche located at the market.
“Especially in summer, when we have to go around looking for local produce and it is difficult with the children,” Gyem, one of the vendors, said.
“Establishment of such crèche at the vegetable market has made our vendors very convenient. The parents are happy that they can bring their children at the market now,” Dhendup, the Tshogpa of CFM, said.
The child crèche will cater to children below the age of three. NCWC started the initiative of establishing such crèche in agencies and dzongkhags as per the directives of the 92nd Lhengye Zhungtshog. The NCWC with support from ADB has so far established 15 crèches under different agencies in the country.
