KATHMANDU: Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Asha Koirala has pressed for establishment of Early Childhood Development Centre (ECDC) in every locality to help increase investment in Early Childhood Development.

Speaking at a programme organised in the Capital today, Minister Koirala spoke of the need to expand the ECDs by determining the parents' role and responsibilities.

There are a total of 30,338 ECDCs being run at community level while 5,645 such centres have been operated by private sector in the country.

Caucus members including Rukmini Chaudhari, Ofilal Ofeda and Kunti Kumari Shahi and former parliamentarians Sita Poudel among others stressed the need for the government to clarify which government body would take the responsibility for ensuring education, nutrition and health to children.

The new constitution promulgated in September 2015 incorporates Child Rights as a fundamental right. They also emphasised on increasing investment for childhood development.

Educationist Dr Kishore Shrestha, Deputy Director at the Department of Education Hari Khanal and advocate Chandrika Khatiwada among others presented papers on various dynamics of early childhood developments.