Footprints Preschool & Daycare, one of India's largest childcare networks with over 240 centres across more than 30 cities, has announced its full support for the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) proposal to mandate live CCTV access for parents and enforce uniform minimum safety standards across daycare centres. The announcement comes in the wake of a widely reported safety incident at a Bengaluru daycare facility that has shaken parental confidence in childcare providers nationwide.
Background and Rationale
The KSCPCR proposal aims to restore trust by requiring real-time video monitoring and consistent safety protocols. Footprints CEO Raj Singhal emphasized that safety is foundational. "The real purpose of the years that a child spends in a preschool or daycare is development," Singhal said. "But development is only possible when safety is never in question. Safety isn't a feature you bolt on later; it's an architecture you build from day one." He noted that live CCTV access and background-verified educators have been standard at Footprints for over a decade, not due to regulatory pressure but because they could not justify their absence to parents.
Three Key Commitments
In response to the current environment, Footprints has announced three specific commitments. First, the company will make its child-safety standard operating procedures (SOPs) available to the KSCPCR, other state commissions, and any industry body drafting daycare standards. Second, as employers across India re-evaluate outsourced campus daycare, Footprints will publish a due-diligence checklist that any company can use to audit its childcare provider, regardless of the provider. Third, Footprints reiterated its position that live visibility into a child's day should be treated as a parent's right, not a premium feature, across the industry.
AI-Monitored Live CCTV System
Every Footprints centre currently provides parents with real-time access to AI-monitored live CCTV through the Footprints ParentConnect App. Parents can check in at any time—whether at 11 a.m., 2 p.m., or whenever they wish—without waiting for reports or updates. The system is designed as a preventive measure rather than a reactive one, which is particularly critical in environments caring for children aged two to five years.
Industry Impact and Call for Regulation
Singhal welcomed the proposed regulation, stating, "Regulation like this doesn't threaten good operators, it protects children from bad ones. We welcome the scrutiny. We'd welcome even more of it." The company's stance highlights a growing industry recognition that enforceable standards are necessary to rebuild parental confidence after recent incidents. Footprints operates in over 30 cities across India and is one of the largest childcare networks in the country.
