The Jammu and Kashmir government Wednesday directed authorities concerned to take immediate steps for setting up basic facilities for women at pubic places.
The move is aimed at securing women's right to privacy and interests of newborn babies and their mothers in light of the Section-22 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, a circular released by Secretary at the Social Welfare Department Farooq Ahmad Lone said.
It is impressed upon all the stakeholders including executing agencies like municipalities, development authorities, Public Works Department, Gardens, Parks and Floriculture Department, Rural Development Department, district administrations and other agencies concerned to ensure setting up of basic facilities, including feeding rooms, changing rooms and restrooms at public places for women and children, the circular said.
Section-22 provides that the state shall endeavour to secure all women, special protection against discourtesy, defamation, hooliganism and other forms of misconduct. With a view to achieve this constitutional guarantee to women, the government has all along been conscious of the importance of empowerment of women to bring about gender responsive social transformation in the society and number of laws and measures are in place to safeguard and protect the rights of women and child, it said. However, it has been observed that due to lack of facilities at public places to breastfeed, the women's privacy is hampered and at times women are harassed and mocked by the public at large on this account, the circular added.
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