Umpling crèche a blessing for poor working mothers

SHILLONG: Mawryngkneng MLA David Nongrum on Saturday inaugurated a crèche run by the Seng Longkmie Umpling at Dong Shaneng, Umpling.
The crèche caters to the needs of underprivileged working mothers who have no one to look after their children at home. The crèche now houses 15 children from the age of one year to three years. N.R Lyngdoh, a known social activist who is also the President of the Seng Longkmie Umpling, said the crèche was earlier running from a rented house and they found it difficult to make ends meet after paying off the monthly rent etc. The present crèche is being built from the MLA funds on land belonging to the shnong.
Speaking to this reporter, Lyngdoh said, “We charge a nominal fee of Rs 400 per month per child since the mothers who are mostly daily wage earners cannot afford more than that. We have to employ two helpers to look after the children in the crèche and pay Rs 4,000 per month to each. So the deficit is being met by funds donated by members of the Seng Longkmie Umpling and a small assistance from the Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW). We are very grateful to our MLA David Nongrum for the financial assistance in putting up this new building and for the furnishings and baby cots etc, and to the Dorbar Shnong for supporting us in our efforts.”Later, David Nongrum also inaugurated the stage at the community hall of the Dorbar Shnong Umpling.