Assam BJP MLA, Angoorlata Deka, has requested the higher authority for a lactation room in the Assembly building. This request was the outcome of the difficulty she was facing while constantly juggling between the assembly building and her residence to feed her one-month-old daughter.
“The assembly takes up major issues on a daily basis and with my daughter at home, I couldn’t concentrate during the discussions.’’Angoorlata Deka
Every day, 3-4 times, she would bounce back home from the assembly premises to feed Namami (Deka’s daughter) due to which she would miss out on a plethora of discussions and meetings.
History was created this year when Greens senator Larissa Waters of Australia became the first politician to breastfeed in a Parliament after a law was passed allowing lactating mothers in Parliament to do so. Deka is striving to push the matter forward by requesting the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Chandra Mohan Patowary to allocate a chamber to nurse babies.
I told him that if there was a feeding room, I could concentrate more and focus well during the meetings.Angoorlata Deka
Angoorlata’s predicament is resonating with women across India. Doctors say that a newborn should be breast-fed for the first six months for which the law provides six months maternity leave but this very law is not pertinent to MPs and MLAs. Also, the recent Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 provides crèche facilities in work establishments. Angoorlata would soon be taking the issue to the Speaker, Hitendra Nath Goswami. During the interview, the young MLA also urged Prime Minister, Narendra Modi to introduce lactation rooms.
“I request our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi to introduce feeding rooms in all workplaces as it will be of great help to working mothers and their infants.”Angoorlata Deka
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