Railways to the aid of lactating mothers

Travelling by train has been made easy for lactating mothers as the Railways has incorporated a clean and safe private area in waiting rooms of railway stations across the country so that women travellers can breastfeed their babies. Women and Child Development (WCD) Minister Maneka Gandhi had earlier written to Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu about the inconvenience of lactating mothers while traveling by railways as there were no private rooms where they could breastfeed. Accordingly, the railway ministry informed the women and child development ministry that instructions were given to all zonal railway authorities to allocate a private space in waiting rooms for women so that they can comfortably feed their babies. The private area is provided with a small table and a chair with appropriate partition/screen around it. As of date, more than 100 waiting halls have been provided with this facility. Maneka Gandhi expressed her happiness at the railway’s prompt action and said that breastfeeding is extremely important for the health of a child and clean, safe and exclusive areas in public places for breastfeeding was the need of the hour. She hoped that this facility will be extended to all railway stations. In a letter to Prabhu, Maneka had stated that there should be proper infrastructure at railway stations so that women who wait for long hours can breastfeed as well as change clothes.