NIMHANS Inaugurates Reimagined Crèche ‘Aata Paata’ for Staff Children in Bengaluru

The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) inaugurated ‘Aata Paata’, a reimagined crèche facility for the young children of its staff members, at its campus in Bengaluru on August 31.

The initiative has been developed with a focus on creating a child-friendly environment that supports play, exploration, and early development. According to the institute, the project is rooted in the principle that the physical spaces in which children spend their formative years play an essential role in their emotional well-being and overall growth.

The redesigned facility offers spaces planned to give children opportunities to play, explore, learn, rest, and interact socially. Its design incorporates gentle lighting, child-friendly materials, and colours that encourage movement and active play, along with opportunities for sensory exploration and contact with nature.

NIMHANS stated that early childhood care extends beyond standard supervision and nutrition, noting that children’s development is deeply influenced by play, movement, relationships, and their interactions with their physical surroundings. The institute also highlighted that safe and dedicated spaces for children are increasingly vital in dense urban environments, where green spaces and avenues for unstructured play are shrinking.

The project was conceptualised and designed by architect Bhavana Kumar of Kumar La Noce, who worked alongside child mental health professionals from NIMHANS. Technical support was provided by the institute's in-house engineering and structural teams, and the overall initiative was guided by the NIMHANS administration led by its Director, Senior Professor Prabha S. Chandra.

The crèche is intended to assist both mothers and fathers employed at the institute by providing dependable childcare within the workplace. NIMHANS noted that mental health promotion begins early in life and expressed hope that ‘Aata Paata’ will serve as a model that other public institutions can adapt to create sustainable, child-centred care environments for their staff.