Five women employed at Little Buds Day Care Centre, a creche operating on Capgemini’s east Bengaluru campus, have been booked for allegedly abusing toddlers aged two to three. Police action followed video clips that reportedly showed children being mistreated and warned not to speak about it.
The case has deeply unsettled working parents because on-campus childcare is supposed to make work possible, not create a new source of fear. Capgemini has said the facility is run by an external provider, has temporarily closed it and is cooperating with authorities.
For employers, the issue goes beyond simply providing a creche facility. Workplace childcare needs proper screening, visible safeguards, clear reporting channels, surprise audits and independent checks. Parents should not have to rely only on trust when very young children are involved.
The case is a reminder that workplace support is only meaningful when the systems behind it are actively watched, tested and held accountable.
