‘Few use the rooms at smaller bus terminals’

Two years ago, the Tamil Nadu government established 352 breastfeeding rooms at bus terminals across the State. But while the larger ones such as the one at CMBT in Chennai are popular and well maintained, a survey reveals that the rooms at smaller terminals require more publicity and amenities.

The survey, by the TN-FORCES (Forum for Creche and Child Care Services in Tamil Nadu), conducted between July 20 and 29, studied 32 rooms in 21 towns/cities. While the breastfeeding room at CMBT gets around 15 mothers a day, the survey found that there are hardly any takers for the rooms at smaller terminals such as in Perambur, T. Nagar, Mandaveli and Mogappair. Another issue was encroachment. In Kumbakonam, the breastfeeding room is encroached upon by others at night. Outsiders (non-breastfeeding mothers) occupied 16% of the rooms as per the survey.

The survey also found that some rooms required more amenities — for instance, only 28% of the rooms had washbasins and only 3% had drinking water facilities.

Another issue is the lack of publicity — the survey pointed out that there are no large boards or signs at many of the facilities.

The rooms in smaller cities too need better maintainence and upkeep. The breastfeeding rooms opened by State government at bus stands in Coimbatore do not have many takers with their maintenance and upkeep not being given proper attention. According to TNSTC employees at Ukkadam, Gandhipuram and Singanallur bus stands, the breastfeeding rooms often remain unused.

“The rooms require more attention from the civic body to ensure that they are hygienic throughout the day,” they said.

At the Coimbatore Railway Station, mothers are making use of the secluded space in waiting rooms for women.

“This is a good move by the State government. But we found that in some places, local shopkeepers are using the rooms for storage. And in many other places, there are no signboards directing women to the facility. Most rooms are only open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. They should be converted into 24x7 facilities,” said K. Shanmugavelayutham, convenor, TN-FORCES.