In a pioneering move towards creating a more inclusive and supportive campus environment, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has inaugurated its first lactation room for nursing mothers. This significant initiative underscores the institution’s commitment to gender inclusivity, women’s welfare, and work-life balance within academic and professional spaces.
Located in the main academic complex, the newly inaugurated lactation room is designed to offer a private, hygienic, and comfortable space for breastfeeding mothers—whether they are faculty, staff, students, or visitors. The facility is equipped with essential amenities such as a nursing chair, refrigerator for milk storage, washbasin, sanitization supplies, and privacy screens.
The decision to establish the lactation room was led by IIT Delhi’s Gender Unit in collaboration with the Women’s Forum and received support from the institution’s administration. The initiative aligns with national and global movements advocating for the rights and dignity of working mothers, particularly in educational and research institutions.
Professor Rangan Banerjee, Director of IIT Delhi, expressed that the initiative represents an important step toward building a family-friendly and gender-sensitive academic ecosystem. “A university campus should provide necessary infrastructure to support the diverse needs of its members. This lactation room is a small but crucial step in that direction,” he stated.
India’s top educational institutions have been under growing scrutiny regarding gender equity, especially in STEM fields where female representation remains low. By introducing this facility, IIT Delhi sends a strong message about fostering a more inclusive campus culture, particularly for women who often face difficult choices between career and motherhood.
According to a 2022 survey conducted by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), only 18% of faculty in top engineering colleges are women. Infrastructure support such as lactation rooms can significantly influence retention and participation of women in academia and research.
Students and staff have welcomed the initiative wholeheartedly. Dr. Anjali Sharma, a faculty member at IIT Delhi and mother of a one-year-old, remarked, “This facility has been long overdue. It’s reassuring to see the institution recognize the importance of such a basic but essential need.”
This development is expected to inspire other academic institutions across the country to adopt similar measures, promoting inclusivity, health, and welfare for women across campuses
