Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government will soon set up dedicated breastfeeding rooms in public places such as shopping malls, railway stations, and bus stands, announced Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Minister Women & Child Development Pravati Parida. The initiative is aimed at ensuring privacy and dignity for women who need to breastfeed their babies while travelling or in public spaces.
Speaking to reporters, Parida said that the state government plans to roll out the facilities within the next two to three months. “We want to create a safe and respectful environment for mothers. Women should not feel hesitant or uncomfortable about breastfeeding their children in public,” she said.
This initiative follows a directive from the Supreme Court, which in March this year urged all states and union territories to implement an advisory issued by the Union Government. The apex court emphasized that breastfeeding in public and in workplaces should not be stigmatised and directed authorities to provide appropriate facilities for mothers.
In addition to promoting breastfeeding-friendly infrastructure, the Odisha Government is also ramping up efforts to improve menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls. Parida shared that schools across the state have been instructed to install sanitary napkin vending machines on their premises.
She also highlighted a social initiative being encouraged by the state: gifting sanitary pads at weddings. “We are promoting the idea of giving sanitary pads as wedding gifts. This will help normalize their use and break social taboos,” she said.
Parida noted that sanitary pads are now available at a subsidized price of Re 1 at all Jan Aushadhi stores across the state. “Earlier, many village women were unaware of the use of sanitary napkins. When families begin purchasing them just like any regular grocery item, only then will the stigma truly disappear,” she added.
