Assam legislator demands feeding room in assembly

MLA Angoorlata Deka, who is a famous Assamese actor and theatre artiste, gave birth to her daughter on August 3.

An Assam BJP legislator has demanded a dedicated mother-and-baby room within the Assembly building so that she does not have to shuttle between the Assembly and her quarters during a session.

MLA Angoorlata Deka, who is a famous Assamese actor and theatre artiste, gave birth to her daughter on August 3. She has been staying in a quarter in the Assembly complex ever since the session began on September 4.

"Every hour or so, I have to leave the Assembly and rush home to feed Namami (her daughter). In the process, I miss a lot of debates and discussions," Indian Express quoted her as saying.

"I am not asking for a new law as they have in Australia, but I am sure we can have a special room as in the Tanzanian parliament," first time MLA, Deka said.

She has been every hour or two so that her month-old daughter doesn't go hungry while she is legislating.

On September 7, Deka made a formal request to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary for a lactation room.

She has also raised demand for lactation rooms at government and non-government workplaces so that babies are not deprived of mother's milk.

The Speaker, however, said he was not aware of the issue, adding that Deka can use rooms in the guest house, which is much closer than quarters.

OneIndia News