Civic body to consider period leave, feeding centers in city

On Friday, the BMC house will discuss two issues concerning women — a day off on the menstrual cycle's first day, and building breastfeeding centers in Mumbai. Both proposals have been made by women corporators. The day off was proposed by Sheetal Mhatre of Shiv Sena, and breastfeeding centers by Leena Patil Deherkar of BJP.

Mhatre made the proposal public last month by making the demand while Deherkar's proposal has come to the fore now. Mhatre's proposal received both praise and criticism from women who said that they should decide when the off should be while some said that they don't want the off because citing it will hamper their growth as many men would see it as another excuse by women.

Deherkar's notice of motion states that spots at tourist destinations in Mumbai will be identified so as to have dedicated places where a mother can breastfeed her child. However, now Deherkar claims that her proposal is not just for tourist destinations but for all public places.