In this study, we propose to research the effects of free creches (daycare centres) months on the development and nutrition of children aged 6 to 36 months living in the rural district of Keonjhar in Odisha, Eastern India. Ekjut manages over 50 creches for children aged 6 to 36 months in Keonjhar. The creches have clean water, are smoke-free, serve two hot cooked meals per day, provide stimulating activities for children, and also serve as hubs for parents’ meetings where creche workers discuss good health, nutrition, protection, and stimulation practices for parents of children attending the creches and others in the community.

We will select 30 of these creches and follow up 350 children aged 6-24 months enrolled in them for 12 months, along with a group of children the same age in nearby, comparable villages. We will conduct a questionnaire interview with parents of children in both groups (those in creches and those not in creches) to capture information on families’ socio-economic characteristics, access to health and nutrition services, and how stressed parents feel in meeting their caregiving obligations. We will also children’s development and nutritional status 12 months after recruitment to understand whether creches benefit children.