In order to comfort new moms and their babies, the Uttar Pradesh government is planning to install breastfeeding cubicles at each bus station of UPSRTC. This is a winning moment for all those people who are relentlessly spreading awareness about breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding is the best nutrition for an infant during the first 6 months of life. It promotes healthy child development & growth and prevents diseases in adulthood.
But lack of infrastructure and social taboo attached to breastfeeding in public makes it really difficult for new moms to feed their babies in public. Sometimes young mothers have been shamed and criticized for feeding their infants in public.
Last year, many of us were outraged when employees of a prestigious mall told a new mom to nurse her baby in a toilet.
But, there has been a positive change in our society as many people are trying hard to spread awareness about breastfeeding in public. And finally, their efforts have begun to bring a change in society with Uttar Pradesh at the forefront!
Recently, UP government installed breastfeeding cubicles at Taj Mahal.
And, now it has decided to move one step ahead by setting up more such cubicles at several bus stations.
As per India Today, UPSRTC Managing Director, Raj Shekhar said in a statement,
“The need and requirement were very much felt by the UPSRTC in the last few years. Now looking into the importance and the requirement of this, the UPSRTC board has approved the project of setting up of Breast-Feeding Cubicles/Kiosks (Baby Feeding Cubicles) in each bus station of UPSRTC.”
Coming up breastfeeding cubicles for infants in bus stop of UPSRTC. MD @rajiasup has initiated this idea. These cubicles will be ready by November. pic.twitter.com/1ZZHSe2Ta6
— Rajeev Mullick (@rmulko) August 26, 2019
As a part of the public-private partnership, the government is planning to set-up the breastfeeding cubicles in 23 out of the 242 bus stations in UP in the first phase.
And in a span of 3 months, the rest of the bus stations will also be covered. The breastfeeding cubicles would be made up of lightweight stainless steel material, which would be easy to transport and assemble into cubicles.
The authorities are making sure that the cubicles are spacious enough for breastfeeding and changing the diapers of babies.