Who started the concept of 'mobile crèche ?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 4:
Dr. Meera Mahadevan is the visionary founder universally credited with starting the concept of the 'Mobile Crèche' in India. The genesis of this pioneering social movement occurred in 1969 in Delhi when Meera Mahadevan observed the dire plight of the neglected children of migrant construction workers at the site of the Gandhi Centenary Exhibition. She was deeply moved by the sight of unattended babies and children exposed to harsh conditions while their parents labored. Her response was immediate and deeply conceptual: rather than waiting for formal government action or for parents to find childcare, she took the initiative to set up the first makeshift creche in a tent right amidst the construction noise and dust. This was a revolutionary model because the crèches were explicitly designed to be *mobile*, literally following the construction workers as they moved from site to site across the city and later the country. This ensured the continuity of essential services—including childcare, early education, health, and nutrition—for a highly transient and vulnerable population. Her fundamental belief was that every child has the right to a secure and nurturing childhood, which she put into practice by "fitting the care to the child" rather than the child to a static centre.

The incorrect option is 1:
Dr. Anandalakshmi is not the founder of the 'Mobile Crèche' concept. While she may be a notable academic or professional in a related field, the historical credit for the idea and the establishment of the organization belongs firmly to Meera Mahadevan. The core innovation of the 'mobile crèche'—a temporary, adaptable daycare system moving with migrant construction families—is a historical milestone tied directly to Mahadevan's personal and spontaneous action in 1969. Simply being an accomplished person in the field of child development does not equate to being the founder of this specific, unique initiative. The concept was born from a specific, documented observation by Mahadevan, not a professional plan developed by Dr. Anandalakshmi.

The incorrect option is 2:
Dr. Meena Swaminathan is not the founder of the 'Mobile Crèche' concept. Dr. Swaminathan is a highly respected and influential figure, particularly recognized for her significant contributions to early childhood education (ECE) and her policy advocacy in India, notably related to the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme. Her work often focused on the pedagogical aspects of pre-school education and large-scale government programs. However, her professional journey and institutional contributions are distinct from the pioneering grassroots effort to establish the Mobile Crèche for children at construction sites. The confusion often arises because both women are celebrated figures in the broader Indian ECE and child welfare sector, but the historical foundation of Mobile Crèches is not associated with Dr. Meena Swaminathan.

The incorrect option is 3:
Dr. Amita Verma is not the founder of the 'Mobile Crèche' concept. Like the other options, there is no historical or factual evidence that links Dr. Amita Verma to the founding of the Mobile Crèches organization in 1969. The Mobile Crèches movement was a direct, on-site intervention started by Meera Mahadevan, who later received support from others like Devika Singh, but the original idea and the inaugural step were hers. In questions requiring specific historical attribution for an institutional concept, it is crucial to rely on confirmed facts of the organization’s origin. Therefore, Dr. Amita Verma is incorrect, as she was not the person who introduced this specific, mobile model of child care for the children of construction workers.