‘Ensure cabins for mothers to breastfeed in public places’ — Congress MP urges govt to introduce bill

The MP from Kerala, Anto Antony, spoke of difficulties faced by mothers in finding private spaces to breastfeed. He also highlighted need for a regulatory authority to monitor such cabins.

A mother with her infant child at a Delhi Metro station | Representational image | Suraj Singh Bisht

New Delhi: Lactating mothers should be provided cabin facilities to breastfeed their infants in public places, said Lok Sabha MP Anto Antony Monday, urging the government to introduce a bill in this regard.

The Congress legislator from Kerala raised the issue in Parliament, saying that many mothers struggle to find suitable and private spaces to breastfeed their infants in public. Currently there’s no law in India pertaining to breastfeeding in public places. 

“We request the government to kindly introduce a comprehensive bill to ensure cabin facilities for lactating mothers to breastfeed their infants at public places, including parks, airports, bus terminals, auditoriums and government buildings,” said Antony. 

He claimed that a bill in this regard “is the need of the hour to address the grievance.” Moreover, a provision of such a facility “shall promote a breastfeeding-friendly environment and support mothers in their choice to breastfeed infants,” he added.

He also highlighted the need for a regulatory authority to monitor such cabins. 

“The proposed bill may have guidelines for the designs, location and facility of breastfeeding cabins taking into consideration the comfort and privacy of lactating mothers and infants. Moreover, the bill may have a provision to establish a regulatory authority to monitor the aforementioned cabins,” he said. 

There have been cases in the past where mothers have found it difficult to breastfeed their infants due to a lack of safe spaces. For instance last year, a candidate of the West Bengal Integrated Child Development Society (ICDS) examination was allegedly compelled to breastfeed her baby in the open outside due to lack of facilities for it inside the building.

In a related development, the Maharashtra government in June allocated Rs 20 crore for setting up “Hirkani Kaksh” (baby feeding centres) at strategic locations in the twin city of Mira-Bhayandar, which would be operational 24 hours. The idea was reportedly proposed by Shiv Sena’s Pratap Sarnaik, who sought funding from the state government for the purpose.

(Edited by Richa Mishra)