Help Nanhe Kadam Prison Crèches - with little steps towards hope

Every child deserves a chance to laugh, to play, to dream. But for over one million children across India impacted by parental incarceration each year, childhood is often stolen before it even begins.

Infants take their first steps in cramped prison wards. Toddlers fall asleep on hard floors without warmth. Children as old as six wake up every morning to prison gates instead of playgrounds.

Nanhe Kadam Prison Crèches are changing that.

In 2023, in partnership with the Prison Department, Government of Maharashtra, we launched India’s first prison-based crèche and nursery in Mumbai. From one pilot, we have now grown to six crèches, with a vision to reach all 12 women’s prisons in Maharashtra.

Here, children aged 0–6 find safety, love, and a chance to grow. Through nurturing care, early learning, and dedicated support for incarcerated mothers, we are bringing dignity and hope where it is most needed.

But we cannot do this without you.

Your contribution will help restore over 150 lost childhoods across prison crèches in Maharashtra by helping pay to clothe, educate, and nurture children of incarcerated mothers. Your donation will help:

• Build a safe space for them to learn & grow
• Hire & maintain a dedicated team of social workers & teachers
• Send monthly curriculum kits with educational materials
• Set up robust multilingual libraries for the crèches 
• Provide infant kits with bottles, blankets, baby formula etc.
• Provide hygiene kits with soap, toothbrushes etc.
• Provide blankets & bedding 
• Provide uniforms

At Nanhe Kadam, prison walls no longer define a child’s future. With your support, we can give them back their right to a childhood filled with joy, safety, and possibility.

A Unique and Inclusive Model:

We provide safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate spaces for children aged 0–6 years living in prison. The program also includes parenting support circles, or “Parent Pods”, for incarcerated mothers, addressing their unique caregiving challenges.

What sets Nanhe Kadam apart is its inclusive model: the creches are not only for children of incarcerated mothers, but also for children of prison police officials. This shared space model fosters empathy, equality, and a sense of normalcy, benefiting all children within the prison ecosystem. 

Donate now and help them walk little steps towards hope.

Donate easily through UPI, all debit/credit cards, or net banking. Charitable donations to this fundraising campaign are tax exempted under 80G of the Income Tax Act (India).