Recently, Delhi and Lucknow divisions of the Northern Railway, offered foldable berths for travelers commuting with babies. As part of a test program, this initiative was launched on Mother’s Day. On the Lucknow Mail’s two lower main berths, ‘baby berths’ have been installed as a trial. And, once the authorities receive feedback from passengers, this service will be expanded to other trains.
The idea behind this initiative was to offer parents additional berths to handle babies who are too young to be left alone on a single ordinary berth. To prevent babies from falling out and keep them safe, a stopper is installed in the berth.
Facilitating ease of travel for mothers travelling with their babies.
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) May 10, 2022
Indian Railways introduced baby berth on experimental basis in Lucknow Mail 12229/30, Coach No. 194129/B4, berth No. 12 & 60.
The fitted baby berth is foldable & secured with a stopper. pic.twitter.com/THZvL4MJhk
Recently, Satish Kumar, the divisional railway manager of the Lucknow Northern Railway, took to Twitter to share the details about berths, along with a video explaining how to use it.
On trial basis Delhi Division has started baby berth in selected trains for facilitating mothers to comfortably sleep along with their babies. IR under the leadership of Hon MoR @AshwiniVaishnaw Sir & Hon MoSR @DarshanaJardosh ma’am is taking Service to another level pic.twitter.com/zQ8pD3V3bd
— Sanjay Kumar IRTS (@Sanjay_IRTS) May 10, 2022
Although no one can deny that the idea behind the initiative is worth appreciation, the execution and design are not practical.
Many netizens claimed that no mother was consulted while designing this berth. They also shared how the design isn’t safe for babies. Here are some of their reactions.
apart from the impracticality of this rubbery straightjacket contraption & that huge gap which screams mishaps, no mother (or dad) will be comfortable placing their kid towards the outside while she/he sleeps snuck next to the safety of the carriage wall @RailMinIndia https://t.co/I7hFTRx9qq
— Richa Lakhera (@RICHA_LAKHERA) May 12, 2022
Dear Indian Railways, i don’t think this was designed using the baby in mind.
— abhaychawla13 (@abhaychawla13) May 12, 2022
Will your lady officers or the wives of male officers put a baby to sleep next to a steep drop?
who is coming up with these ideas? https://t.co/qgVNBSLZaW
Which mother will keep the baby like this? Baby’s are put always to the side of wall….. https://t.co/pQmm8fhFHz
— Santosh Verma (@vsankumar) May 12, 2022
Don’t think there was a mother on the team who decided this! @RailMinIndia https://t.co/X64ILn62eu
— Kalpana Sharma (@KalpanaTOI) May 12, 2022
Good thought process, terrible designing and execution. https://t.co/poF5xb1dsb
— S (@ThatStarGazer) May 11, 2022
I don’t think the design committee had a woman.A simple design would have been to increase the breadth of the main seat to let the child & mother sleep on the same seat. & allocate these special seats who travel with infants. #IndianRailways https://t.co/XDN2uUDph9
— Randomtalks (@mindfooly) May 11, 2022
Great idea but what if someone drops something from upper or middle berth.. https://t.co/aGfPuCgqCF
— Satyam Kumar bhardwaj (@Satyam04380385) May 12, 2022
Anybody with a child or a baby will tell you that this is a bad design..babies are always towards the wall for safety and not outside like this for them to fall and injure themselves…#IndianRailways https://t.co/DBR2nHLHvP
— Chida Murthy (@chidamn) May 11, 2022
Perhaps you need to consider something like this https://t.co/CwxqvnME0t
— Ideator Atom (@Ideator_Atom) May 11, 2022
Do let us know what you think!