Taj Mahal and two more monuments in Agra to get exclusive baby-feeding rooms

In a first, Taj Mahal is going to be the first Indian monument to have exclusive ‘baby feeding’ rooms, which intends to give privacy to breastfeeding mothers.

As per the reports, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will be earmarking ‘Baby Feeding’ rooms at three popular World Heritage Sites, i.e., Fatehpur Sikri, Taj Mahal, and Agra Fort. Referring to this development, ASI superintending archaeologist Vasant Swarankar stated that such type of provision will be offered for the first time at a monument in India.
The official mentioned that this decision was taken after observing the problems that breastfeeding mothers had to face while visiting these monuments, scouring for privacy. He also mentioned how this situation turns quite embarrassing for such mothers on days when there is a rush.

He further stated that the process of identifying spaces is already in progress, and will likely be ready by the next two months. Those rooms will have basic facilities, such as chair, table, light, and fan. Public breastfeeding still carries a social stigma in our country, therefore, such an initiative is quite welcoming news. The Taj Mahal is a popular tourist attraction that attracts almost 8 million visitors annually and will be the first of its kind to provide basic motherhood right to millions of others, who visit the monument with their babies.

While there is no law in India that bans women from nursing their infant in public, it has been found that most times the surroundings are not apt and cause them a lot of embarrassment.

With this development, it is expected other places also take a cue and try to bring about a change.