Child care centres face fund crunch, await govt grants
Around 500 children hit as release of aid for 2025-26 delayed
As many as 22 child care institutions in Haryana are grappling with a severe financial crisis as government grants for the financial year 2025-26 are yet to be released. The institutions, which house nearly 500 children, say the delay has made it difficult to meet basic needs such as food, education, healthcare and daily expenses.
According to office-bearers of the Confederation of Non-Government Child Care Institutions, which represents NGO-run homes in the state, inspections of all institutions have already been completed, but funds remain pending. As most of these homes depend heavily on government support, the delay has put them under significant strain.
“We have raised this issue with Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Women and Child Development Department Commissioner and Secretary Shekhar Vidyarthi, and Director Dr Priyanka Soni. We have requested them to intervene. We have been assured our issues will be resolved soon and grants will be released by March 25, but we have been waiting for it. Without funds, we are not able to run these institutions,” said PR Nath, general secretary of the confederation.
The confederation has expressed concern that the department has indicated the grants may now be released only after April 2026, once funds are received from the Union government.
“How can we manage expenses for groceries, milk, school fees, books and uniforms without the grant? These children are fully dependent on us, and we look towards the government’s support with hope,” Nath added. In a letter to the Chief Minister, the confederation said timely assistance is crucial to safeguard the future of hundreds of children and to support institutions working under the Juvenile Justice Act.
Nath said the government provides Rs 3,000 per month per child up to 18 years of age and Rs 4,000 per month for those aged between 18 and 22 years. Meanwhile, Director of the Women and Child Development Department, Dr Priyanka Soni, said the delay would soon be addressed.
“The department has received funds from the Union government. We will release the grants in a couple of days,” she said.
