New Delhi: The Law Commission has suggested that every child under six should have an unconditional right to creche and day care provided and regulated by the state.
In its report "Early Childhood Development and Legal Entitlements" submitted to Law Minister D.V. Sadanada Gowda, the commission said the constitutional framework of fundamental rights and directive principles should reflect the special status and needs of children under six years of age.
According to a law ministry release, the commission suggested that a new article 24A be inserted to Part III of the constitution to ensure that the child's right to basic care and assistance becomes an enforceable right. It also suggested that article 21A should be amended to read as follows: "The state shall provide free and compulsory education to all children in such a manner as the state may by law determine."
The commission said that provision of creches should be made the responsibility of the state, not of the employer, especially in the unorganised sector.
"It is suggested that every child under six should have an unconditional right to creche and day care provided, regulated and operated by the state, as found for example in the Act on Children's Day Care of 1973, Finland," it said.
