Apex Court notice to Centre on plea seeking childcare rooms in public places

The Supreme Court has issued notice to the Centre and others on a plea seeking the construction of feeding and childcare rooms and any other facilities related to infants and mothers in public places. On Thursday, a bench of justices, Dinesh Maheshwari and JK Maheshwari, issued notice to the Centre and others on the petition filed by an NGO, Maatr Sparsh.

The petitioner, Maatr Sparsh, an initiative by the Avyaan Foundation, is an NGO that is working towards setting up feeding rooms, child care rooms, and creches in public places.

Advocates Neha Rastogi, Animesh Rastogi, and Abhimanue Shrestha appeared for the petitioner.

“That feeding rooms and child care rooms in all the public places are so very important in today’s scenario when women are equally participating in the economic growth of this nation and are stepping out in such large numbers. Therefore, basic facilities such as feeding rooms and child care rooms shall be provided at all public places so that women can lead their lives with dignity and their privacy is not infringed upon,” the petitioner said.

“That right to life and privacy are inalienable, inseparable and integral parts of the Constitution of India as enshrined in Part III of the Constitution of India,” the petitioner further said, adding that there are various provisions in labour laws for setting up creches and other facilities for women and children. This clearly shows that the right to have proper nursing of a child is his/her fundamental right and it is also recognised to be one of the most important rights.

However, nursing a child with privacy and dignity is the fundamental right of every single woman, which is being infringed upon each time due to the lack of basic facilities such as feeding rooms and child care rooms for women and children in public places, the petition said.

“The Union of India and states are well aware that feeding rooms and child care rooms at public places are essential services that ought to be provided. However, no concrete steps have been taken by them and there is a need for comprehensive guidelines for the setting up of these facilities at all public places,” the petition said.