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Entrepreneurs in Childcare: Possibilities and opportunities in Delhi

Concept note

In the landmark decision, India adopted a progressive childcare provision ‘the maternity amendment bill’ in 2017. This act mandates every organisation having fifty or more employees to provide crèche facility. In light of this the need for trained professionals has increased many folds. While the research and the provisioning context in the country points to the need for programmes for young children—especially for birth to six, one also needs to examine the kind of professional programmes that exist for preparing such professionals. In addition to this, the programmes for preparation of day care professionals are virtually non-existent. Without a carder of professionals in this area, the goals of “enhancing quality” cannot be accomplished. Moreover, the current in-service programmes are preparing teachers for the field only with limited focus on developing entrepreneurial skills. The development of management and business skills are needed in the pre-service programmes.

According to the Census 2011, Delhi is home to 2 million children below 6 years of age. Assuming that a childcare facility can cater to about 30 children, Delhi would require over 67 thousand childcare facilities. Given accelerated urbanization and shift towards nuclear families, capturing 10% of this broader potential market focusing on Delhi points towards the need for 6700 childcare facilities, even by conservative estimates.

The above fact highlights the potential of entrepreneurial opportunities in childcare sector. But childcare business in India is majorly unorganised due to absence of regulations and licensing. There is a need to bring the business professionals, early childhood experts and the prospective practitioners together so that the common knowledge is shared by all of them.

The present symposium is envisaged to bring together experts and entrepreneurs from childcare sector. This will also highlight the scope and opportunities available in this field.

Symposium objectives:

This symposium aims to:

• introduce Bvoc ECCME students to budding entrepreneurs and opportunities available in the childcare field
• help students write an entrepreneurial proposal

Outcomes:

• Understand the need of business in the childcare field
• Prepare an entrepreneurial proposal for getting funds
• know more about after-school services in the childcare field

Schedule: