When it has a hospital with a swanky physiotherapy centre that is very popular, why should Parliament House not have a crèche?
Why not, indeed? With a nod from Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan—the second woman to occupy that post—development work for a crèche is under way, and the facility will come up soon.
Parliament House, will, according to the Central government, be setting “an example of an inclusive and supporting work environment for its women employees.”
The government hopes other establishments including private, central and state organisations provide similar facilities.
The 1,500 square feet crèche will have a separate feeding room and will be managed by professionals.
It has little to do with International Women's Day that is coming up soon.
In fact, three weeks after the event last year, Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi had raised the issue with the Speaker, and pointed out that over a third of the total number of officials working in Parliament were women.
The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017, states that a healthy workplace diversity is to be maintained and directs establishments to provide the facility of a crèche.