Pune: Pune railway division has introduced a baby feeding room for mothers waiting for trains at Pune railway station, with a breastfeeding corner. The room has been constructed in the second class waiting hall on platform number one. Four chairs and a table have also been provided. The feeding corner will be known as ‘Hirkani Kaksha’. The railways is also providing this facility at Kolhapur and Miraj stations in Pune railway division.

“This will give a sense of security to women who wanted to feed their children. This is a step ahead on the path of increasing amenities for passengers,” said Krishnath Patil, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (Sr DCM) of Pune railway division.

The decision has been taken after a directive was issued by the Railway Ministry, asking all zonal heads to provide baby-feeding cubicles within the waiting hall at all A1 and A category stations, Patil said.
For mothers waiting on crowded platforms of railway stations, the baby feeding room will provide a sense of security. “I regularly travel from Pune station with my five-month-old daughter but feel very odd to feed my baby in the open on the platform. Sometimes I avoid doing so because I do not feel comfortable breastfeeding,” said Geetika Gupta, a frequent railway passenger.

Harsha Shah, President, Railway Pravasi Group, Pune, has welcomed the move. “I was demanding this for the last five years. Women don’t feel comfortable feeding their children in not only in open spaces, but also in women’s waiting rooms. This is a very good initiative taken by railways. The Hirkani Kaksha or breastfeeding corner should be opened in all station under the Pune railway division,” said Harsha Shah.