The Aangan Trust, India, has dedicated over 22 years to advocating and protecting the rights of vulnerable children, with a significant focus on those impacted by parental incarceration. Recognizing the profound impact incarceration has on children, Aangan partnered with the Maharashtra state Prison Department to support children with incarcerated parents. This initiative has led to the establishment of Nanhe Kadam creches in prisons across Pune, Mumbai, Nasik, and Nagpur for children of both incarcerated mothers and prison guards up to six years of age. Creche programming offers a range of structured interventions, including integrated art, play, and learning sessions, developmental assessments, and tailored curriculum. The Parent Pod initiative further supports incarcerated mothers and their children by providing emotional, social, and mental health support. Additionally, the initiative incorporates prison guard support networks to ensure a cohesive and supportive environment. Maharashtra’s adoption of this model has been so successful that it has led to legislation mandating creches in all state prisons.
