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Pune cantonment board to start breast feeding facility on MG road in 2 months
The new facility will have three high-quality reclining chairs. Drinking water facility will be also available.
The Pune cantonment board (PCB) is all set to start a breast feeding facility soon. The state-of-the-art centre, equipped with the latest infrastructure, will come up at the PCB commercial space near Bata chowk in the next two months, said officials.
According to the board administration, the facility will be useful to women visiting the area for shopping and other activities.
Once the facility is operational, lactating mothers will find a comforting place to feed their young ones.
Priyanka Shrigiri, vice-president (vp), PCB said that women are not able to feed their young ones at peace ever since CCTV cameras made their way into all shops in the cantonment area.
“The womenfolk don’t have any privacy left and there is a constant fear of CCTV cameras capturing their private moments. Many of the women whom I have spoken to have complained about the surveillance and loss of privacy. The decision has been taken to set up a dedicated breast feeding facility to provide relief to these mothers ,” she said.
The new facility will have three high-quality reclining chairs. Drinking water facility will be also available. The breast feeding facility will be spacious, and airy. All steps will be taken to ensure that the facility will be clean and hygiene, said the officials. A detailed plan is being readied for the construction.
Meanwhile, the proposal has evoked good response among women and cantonment residents.
Leading businessman and social worker Manjett Singh Virddi welcomed the decision and said that there was an urgent need for setting up the facility. “The place will be completely safe and secure for the mothers and it will give them lot of relief. We appreciate the decision taken by the board to start the facility at an important commercial junction like MG road ,” he said.
Sadiya Shaikh, a resident of Bhimpura said that it was aimed at empowering women in the area. “The elected representatives and board administration must not stop at starting breast feeding facilities. They must ensure that proper vaccination of girl child, free medical check up of anaemic women and other health facilities are extended to women free of cost ,” she added. The final approval on the budget will be given during the next general body meeting.
