Modest Beginnings

Our founder, Meera Mahadevan, set up the first "mobile creche" in 1969 as a spontaneous response to the neglected children she saw on the site of the Gandhi Centenary Exhibition, in Delhi. From that rudimentary shelter, the journey began towards gaining entry into other construction sites and ensuring basic minimum care for the children of the vast migrant labour force belonging to the poorest strata of society.

As more and more creches were set up across the construction sites and slums of Delhi, Mobile Creches became a trusted presence among the women who toiled for a living, building houses or selling vegetables. They left their young ones in the care of the "didis" (older sister) who fed, nurtured and tutored them, sowing the seeds of a secure childhood and a confident adulthood.

Spreading Our Wings

The day-care centre became the hub of the organisation's activities, and the launching pad to help spread its wings to take up larger issues: negotiating with builders for greater financial support and responsibility sharing, lobbying with policy makers for progressive laws and programmes, and advocacy among the community of parents to follow better childcare practices at home and demand better services outside.

• Mobile Creches pioneered the Early Childhood Care and Development movement, linking issues of work, women and children. We have come a long way - from services at building sites to building platforms to lobby for all marginalised young children . Click for MC Timeline >>