The women working for the Government of India will get a total of 180 days leave to look after the children in the course of service. The proposal was received from the state government on Tuesday, July 3. This seems to be good news for over four lakh women government employees in the state. Maharashtra State Gazetted Officers’ Organization founder and advisor GD Kulthe said that it was a welcome decision and employee’s organizations were demanding it for some time.
State Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar reiterated that the same leave can be availed of by a male employee too if his wife is dead and if he has children who are under 18. He also further said that at present women employees can avail 180 days maternity leave twice since this leave can be given for women with two children. Women employees would find this facility helpful when their children are in class 10th or 12th.
Maharashtra State Gazetted Officers’ Organization founder and advisor G. D. Kulthe added that employee’s organizations were demanding it for some time. He said that Union Government gives 2 years of child care leave and it is good that state Government has granted this leave for women employees and men employees who have lost their wives.
Mungantiwar informed that at present women employees can avail 180 days maternity leave twice since this leave can be given for women with two children. He informed that for child care and for bringing up the child, this special child care leave can be availed and it can be availed at one stretch or in gaps.
The minister informed that these leaves can be availed during the examination of the children for successive years but during one year such leaves can be taken thrice. The leave can be given till children attain 18 years and reason for keeping this limit is after becoming a voter, they can choose their Prime Minister or Chief Minister and they do not need help from parents which is why this age limit is fixed at 18 for availing child care leave as they need it for the children even applying for their Board exams.