Six years ago, new 'corporate' mums Amrita Singh and Bindu Bhinde found, to their dismay, that there was no professionally-run day care centre where they could leave their kids.
Six years ago, new 'corporate' mums Amrita Singh and Bindu Bhinde found, to their dismay, that there was no professionally-run day care centre where they could leave their kids while they pursued their respective careers.
That is when Singh, an MBA with a well-paying job in a corporate firm, and Bhinde, who had a lucrative career with Bharat Petroleum, decided to quit their jobs and start their own day care centre, The Little Company (TLC) in Bandra's Shirley Village.
“We started it with just three children, but today TLC has about 60 children and is still growing,” said Singh.
Singh used the expertise granted by her MBA degree to market the centre, while Bhinde took charge of its working. In the years that followed, the duo continued to approach several corporate houses with fresh ideas, offering to set up and run day care centres for their employees.
And on Tuesday, their efforts finally bore fruit. Godrej Industries inaugurated its first day care centre on its Vikhroli premises. The centre is to be used by Godrej employees as well as outsiders, as a part of the company's special initiative. Several other corporates will follow suit, hopes the duo.
“A lot of highly-qualified women find it difficult to cope with the pressures at work post-childbirth and are unable to continue with their career. We too have lost out on several such talented women,” said Tanya Dubash, executive director and president, marketing, Godrej Industries.
TLC's professionally-run day care program is a 'baby step' in the right direction.
“The idea of sending children to a crèche is unappealing, as the child does not learn anything there. I also feel that leaving children with their grandparents is unfair, as the grandparents have already brought up their own children and should be relaxing at their age instead of worrying about keeping a toddler occupied,” said Singh.
s_deepa@dnaindia.net
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