Kolkata: A shopping mall landed into controversy after it denied private space to a young mother for breastfeeding her child.
According to the report published in Times of India, her baby was hungry and she wanted to breastfeed the child. As she was at the shopping mall, she searched for an appropriate place. When she requested for private space, storekeepers and security staff denied it. Luckily, an apparel storekeeper helped her by allowing to use the trial room.
Later, while rating the mall on its Facebook page, the woman wrote, “There is no place to breast feed… on top of it, your staff asked me to feed in the toilet… disgusting place….”. Shockingly, the reply from the staff was very rude. The reply was, “Funny you found to be an issue because breast-feeding is not allowed on the floor for a number of reasons. In case of any emergency, we can make arrangements to help someone but certainly this big place that we have is meant for shopping so with all due respect madam please make sure you do your home chores at your home and not in the mall, at least plan it beforehand. It’s not like your baby needs to be breast-fed at any moment so you need arrangements to be made for you at any public area to breast-feed your child anywhere you wish to? We cannot compromise the privacy of other people in public places can we?”
Talking to media persons, Mr. Manmohan Bagri, Vice President of the mall said that the reply was given by an agency’s executive without the consent of the mall.
He further made it clear that there is a “changing room” on the mall’s first floor.
On the other hand, narrating her bad experience at the mall, the woman said that her baby was hungry and crying. The woman further said that she had approached storekeepers and security but none of them came forward to help her. She received help only after staff at an apparel store allowed her to use the trail room, she added.
The incident triggered public outcry. Many netizens expressed their anger. Here’re the few reactions as reported by TOI.
Hyderabad’s Sweta S Pal wrote: “Unprofessional, rude, insensitive and pathetic staff ! How can you ask a mother to feed her baby in a toilet? Can you eat your food there? On top of that, your arrogant staff comments that the lady should complete her ‘household chores’ at home!”
Another netizen, Rong Tuli wrote: “Yeah wanted to visit. But since you started mocking mothers, don’t think ladies should visit there again.”
Reshmi Nilofer wrote: “If I were you, I’d apologise to that mother and try to improvise or make a feeding room available in my mall. Shame on you!”
After the public outrage, unconditional apology was tendered. It read, “We at South City deeply apologise unconditionally for the reply to your feedback. We are deeply saddened by the reply made by our account handler. South City Mall has baby-feeding rooms on all floors… and we have got them operational and… have highlighted the (matter) internally after your feedback and inconvenience caused. In the meantime you got the revert from our agent, for which we apologise once again. We respect the child and mother’s privacy and necessity.”