In collaboration with the Department of Women Development and Child Welfare, Government of Telangana, and supported by Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies Foundation, the initiative introduces a phygital model to support fathers through community engagement and digital learning.
Hyderabad, 14 May 2026: Sesame Workshop India Trust, in collaboration with the Department of Women Development and Child Welfare, Government of Telangana, today unveils the Daddy Cool chatbot, “Bol Daddy Bol” in Hyderabad, marking an important step toward strengthening father engagement in early childhood development across Telangana.
Supported by the Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies Foundation, the initiative combines community-based workshops with digital learning tools through a phygital approach, enabling fathers and caregivers to access parenting support in ways that are flexible, accessible, and culturally relevant.
The event was held at the Commissionerate of Women Development & Child Welfare in Ameerpet, Hyderabad. It was attended by Smt. Shruti Ojha, IAS, Director, Department for Women Development and Child Welfare, Government of Telangana, along with representatives from Sesame Workshop India Trust including Sonali Khan, Sanyam Sharma, Noorul Haque, Samuel John, members of the Telangana implementation team, and program representatives associated with the Daddy Cool initiative. Fathers enrolled in the Daddy Cool cohort also participated in the launch event and interacted with officials and program teams.
The Bol Daddy Bol chatbot has been designed to provide fathers and caregivers with easy access to parenting-related information, child development guidance, and behaviour change communication content that encourages positive parenting, responsive caregiving, and meaningful father–child interactions.
As part of the broader Daddy Cool initiative, the program works to challenge long-standing stereotypes around caregiving by encouraging fathers to participate more actively in their children’s emotional, social, and cognitive development. Through localized workshops and teaching-learning materials available in Telugu and Hindi, fathers are introduced to playful learning, storytelling, emotional engagement, positive discipline, and nurturing care practices that can be integrated into everyday family life.
During the event, Smt. Shruti Ojha also interacted directly with fathers participating in the Daddy Cool program, engaging in conversations around their experiences from the workshops and the changes they observed in their relationships with their children. Fathers from the cohort shared their learnings and reflected on how the initiative encouraged them to become more involved in caregiving, play, and emotional engagement at home.
Addressing the gathering, Smt. Shruti Ojha, IAS, Director, Department for Women Development and Child Welfare, Government of Telangana, said:
“Fathers play a vital role in the holistic development of children, especially during the early years. Through initiatives like the Daddy Cool program and the Bol Daddy Bol chatbot, we are encouraging greater involvement of fathers in nurturing, learning, and caregiving practices at home. This innovative digital platform will help strengthen family engagement and support positive parenting practices across communities in Telangana.”
Speaking on the occasion, Sonali Khan, Managing Trustee, Sesame Workshop India Trust, said:
“At Sesame Workshop India, we believe that children thrive when caregiving becomes a shared journey. Through Daddy Cool and the launch of the Bol Daddy Bol chatbot in Telangana, we are creating more opportunities for fathers to actively participate in their children’s early learning, emotional wellbeing, and everyday moments of joy. By combining community-based engagement with accessible digital tools in local languages, this initiative aims to make positive parenting support more inclusive, relatable, and sustainable for families across communities.”
The team additionally discussed opportunities to strengthen awareness and scale outreach efforts around father engagement and caregiving through support from various government departments, including the wider dissemination of awareness materials and workshops for men and fathers across communities.
The event featured an overview of the Daddy Cool initiative and the rationale behind engaging fathers in early childhood development, alongside discussions on the role of technology-enabled solutions in strengthening community outreach and parent engagement. Fathers enrolled in the program were also introduced to the Bol Daddy Bol chatbot during a symbolic presentation ceremony, followed by interactions and a group photo opportunity with officials and implementation teams.
The initiative aims to:
- Promote father involvement in early childhood care, learning, and development
- Strengthen collaboration between the Government of Telangana and Sesame Workshop India for community-based parenting initiatives
- Showcase the use of digital and chatbot-based platforms for behaviour change communication and parent engagement
- Encourage positive parenting and nurturing care practices within families and communities
Through Daddy Cool – Telangana, Sesame Workshop India continues its commitment to building stronger, more nurturing ecosystems for children, one conversation, one story, and one caring interaction at a time.