Muzrai temples across state to offer dedicated infant care centers

Team Udayavani, Feb 6, 2024, 9:19 AM IST

In a progressive move, the Department of Hindu Religious Endowments and Charities has introduced an initiative to address the challenges faced by mothers of infants visiting temples with their babies.

Under this initiative, plans are underway to construct dedicated rooms within the temple premises to provide a comfortable space for mothers to breastfeed their infants. Six temples under the Muzrai department spread across different parts of the state, have already seen the establishment of separate infant care centers.

Notable temples such as Sri Banashankari Temple in Bengaluru, Vasantvallabharaya Swamy Temple in Vasantpur, Chamundibetta, Mahalakshmi in Mahalakshmi Layout, and Nanjangud temple have already embraced this concept, boasting a specially designed room to cater to the needs of mothers and infants.

With approximately 35,000 temples falling under the Muzrai department in the state, including 500 centers, the plan is to extend this facility to A and B grade temples. Of these, the construction of separate rooms will prioritize temples with the highest number of devotees.

The initiative aims to implement childcare centers in all A and B category temples throughout the state. Visitors will be informed about the availability of designated baby care rooms within the temple premises, emphasizing the importance of cleanliness.

The public, along with temple management boards and devotees, are urged to actively participate in maintaining the cleanliness and functionality of these dedicated spaces. Basavarajendra H., Commissioner of the Mujarai Department, has confirmed that construction is already underway in temples frequented by department devotees, with plans to launch the initiative statewide in the near future.