Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has directed secretaries, directors and district collectors to set up breastfeeding cabins at all government and private offices and public places.
The move, initiated by the Women and Child Development Department, aims at creating a more inclusive and supportive work environment to support breastfeeding and improve governance standards.
“To help nursing mothers balance their professional commitments and personal responsibilities, I request you to establish breastfeeding rooms in all government/public, and private offices in the state,” the letter issued by Rina Mohapatra, special secretary, Coordination, WD, SAG (Non-Nutrition), Creche, on August 27 said.
The officials concerned have been asked to provided a comfortable and clean place where lactating mothers can breastfeed their infants. It will help reduce stress and anxiety among working mothers, boost productivity, and foster a healthier work-life balance, it added.
While the secretaries and directors will look after the setting up breastfeeding cabins in offices, the district collectors will ensure setting up the cabins in public places and private institutions.
This is part of the broader women’s welfare policies of the BJP government, which recently announced one day’s paid menstrual leave for the women employees. The state will also launch Subhadra Yojana to provide financial assistance of Rs 50,000 to women on September 17.
The Law
Currently there’s no law in India pertaining to breastfeeding in public places.
In December 2023, Congress legislator from Kerala Anto Antony had requested the Centre to 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.
The Infant and Young Child Feeding Guidelines, 2016 (IYCFG) drafted by the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (Indian Pediatrics 2016) states: “Nursing in Public (NIP): Mothers should feel comfortable to nurse in public. All efforts should be taken to remove hurdles impeding breastfeeding in public places, special areas/rooms shall be identified/ constructed or established in places like Bus stands, Railway stations, Airports etc.”
Meanwhile in Maharashtra…
The Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government has made “Hirkani Kaksh” (baby feeding centres) mandatory at places where women work in large numbers. In June last year, Rs 20 crore was allocated for setting up such centre at strategic locations in the twin city of Mira-Bhayandar, which will operate 24/7.
Besides police stations, railway stations, bus terminals and hospitals, it has been made compulsory for all the public and semi-public offices, educational institutions and firms to set aside a Hirkani room for the women in their workforces. The state government has ensured that this is legally provided for in the Municipal Corporation Act. The rooms will allow privacy and comfort to lactating women, expecting mothers as well as mothers with small babies and kids below six years of age. An official notification has reportedly been also issued for the setting up of these rooms by the Urban Development Department.
In 2019, Uttar Pradesh State Roadways Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) had allocated Rs 2.5 crore to set up baby-feeding cubicles at all bus stations of the state in a phased manner.
