Taj, 2 Other Monuments to Have Breastfeeding Rooms

In a first, to give privacy to breastfeeding mothers, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is going to set up ‘baby feeding rooms’ in three monuments in Uttar Pradesh’s Agra – Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri and Agra Fort, three world heritage sites.

“Such a facility will be provided at a monument in India for the first time,”The Times of India” quoted ASI superintending archaeologist Vasant Swarankar as saying.

According to the officials, the process of identifying these spaces had started a while back and the special rooms should be ready in the next two months. The baby feeding rooms will have basic facilities like a light, fan, chair and a table.

There have been multiple incidents abroad where women have been asked to leave monuments while they were breastfeeding their child. While there are no laws banning women in India from nursing their infant in public, the surroundings can be quite unfavourable causing them discomfort and embarrassment. In such conditions, this progressive initiative taken by the ASI is commendable.