Demand for breastfeeding room at Paonta Sahib bus stand grows
Despite the newly constructed Paonta Sahib bus stand in Sirmaur district equipped with modern infrastructure, a critical facility is missing — a private space for breastfeeding mothers. Thousands of tourists, devotees and travelers pass through the terminal daily, many of whom are women with infants. However, the absence of a “Baby Feeding Centre” or “Aanchal Kendra” has causes discomfort and distress to nursing mothers, who are left with no option but to breastfeed their infants in public.
The Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) of Paonta Sahib, Geeta Singta, has formally raised the issue with the Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Department and the Bus Stand Management and Development Authority (BSMDA). Singta emphasised that the heavy footfall at the bus stand included a significant number of women travelling with small children. Without a private space, these mothers are forced to nurse in public, which can be both uncomfortable and stressful.
Singta has proposed the creation of a dedicated breastfeeding room on the ground floor of the bus stand, providing a private and comfortable environment for mothers and their children. Local women activists have also voiced their support for the initiative, advocating for a well-equipped room with chairs and curtains for privacy. They have suggested the room be labelled in both English and Hindi as “Baby Feeding Centre” and “Shishu Stanpan Griha” to ensure easy identification.
The call for this essential facility has garnered widespread support from the community, with many hoping that the authorities will act swiftly to implement the much-needed service. Establishing a breastfeeding room would not only provide comfort to mothers but also uphold their dignity, ensuring a more inclusive and supportive environment for travellers at the Paonta Sahib bus stand.
