“It is a big leap towards equality and equal opportunity to women,” Justice Banerjee who was the chief guest for the event said.
Justice Banerjee drew attention to the mindset that only mothers are responsible for bringing up children.
She said that it is a mindset so deep-rooted that even the judiciary is not immune to it.
“Parenting is a joint responsibility. But there is a deep rooted mindset and that pervades down through all levels of society, we judges included.
I was just wondering why all the members of the crèche committee were all women? This is because of the mindset that it is the woman who is responsible for rearing the child. I am glad that the High Court has taken this big leap,” she said.
She pointed out that with the changing family structure with a fall in the number of joint families which share child rearing responsibilities, such a creche is of immense benefit, not only to employees but to practicing lawyers as well.
The Covid-19 pandemic had also impacted women in the workforce, she opined as she recalled the difficulties faced by her personal assistant at the Supreme Court, especially during the pandemic.
“I actually first realised the use of the crèche after I came to the Supreme Court. My PA used to leave her little child there and report to duty. Unfortunately, with the pandemic, everything closed and here this lady was in immense difficulty,” she said.
However, Justice Banerjee opined that apart from being helpful to women, a creche like the one established at the Delhi High Court would help to nurture a group of children to being responsible citizens.
Source: Barandbench
