Kochi metro has now breastfeeding pods, a much-awaited and appreciated move

In an inspirational move, Kochi Metro Rail Ltd. (KMRL) has installed breastfeeding pods for nursing mothers. These pods will give all the required privacy to the mothers where they can comfortably and without any hesitation breastfeed their little ones.
In India, women have always been uncomfortable breastfeeding their babies in public. Also it is considered a taboo here and if a mother does so, she either comes under the eyes of people or is publicly shamed! So to make things easier for such poor mothers, Kochi metro station took the decision.

As per reports, the KMRL has merged with one health start-up and a private hospital to install these pods at four different stations in Kochi. This is also the first time that any city’s metro station has come up with such an idea that would held breastfeeding women.
APM Mohammed Hanish, KMRL Managing Director inaugurated the first pod at the Aluva train station recently. He said, “The message that we are trying to send is simple: to create more safe and hygienic spaces for women in our society. This has been done considering how difficult it is for mothers to breastfeed their babies in public. After we launch in the first four stations, we will take feedback and then think about expanding it to other stations across the network”.

These fibre-reinforced plastic pods are 4 ft x 4 ft in size and are perfect for nursing women. It’s spacious enough for both mother and child and more importantly, it provides the adequate privacy. Proper seating, lighting, hand-sanitiser holder and a charging-point, all are provided inside the pod for the comfort of the women.