Innovative and Quality Support Systems of Child Care: A Private Sector Initiative  

Poster Presented at the National Conference on “Holistic Human Development: Contribution of Multidisciplinary Research”, Jaipur  2014
Ridhi Sethi, Asha Singh, Bhanumathi Sharma

 Abstract

The spread of globalisation impacts social structures. The rise in work opportunities and spread of education has resulted in more women joining the work force. Therefore there is an observable paradigm shift in child care as this phenomena effects familial space. In India and other parts of the world, this has resulted in a heightened need to look for solutions on child care outside of home. This has surfaced in a model wherein all the stakeholders collaborate to help the caregiver in taking care of the young. On one hand we have employers sponsoring child care programmes for their own employees. These programmes can be both direct and indirect in nature. For example apart from  providing onsite child care centres which is a direct service, employers are also providing flexitime, job-sharing, telecommuting, parental leave etc to their employees as indirect benefits. The impact of these programmes is both empirical and evidence based. Child Care programmes have benefited employers by reducing absenteeism, increasing productivity and curbing attrition. Investments in child care are thus also strategic. On the other hand we have the private sector helping the society via the route of corporate social responsibility. This model of public private partnership has immense scope of expansion and will result in integration of different public and private programmes for children. The difference that this liaison can create is enormous. The Private sector can play a key role in children’s development by providing funding to organisations or programmes that support children’s development. Therefore to sum up, through this poster the author attempts to describe the  various  programmes that  private sector corporations are currently running for the benefit of children of their employees or for  children at large. This poster shall also include suggestions for the private sector to get involved in issues such as inclusion to address the needs of underprivileged children and children with disability.