The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday announced that it would extend the maternity leave window from 12 weeks to 365 days for its women employees having their third child.
At present, married women in government employment with less than two children are granted 365 days or one year of maternity leave, while those with two or more children get up to 12 weeks of such leave.
Tamil Nadu’s minister for human resources management, D Sarathkumar, announced this in the state Assembly during the demand for grants to his department.
He said, “Under these circumstances, as the Tamil Nadu government is a welfare-oriented administration prioritising social welfare and women’s empowerment, the maternity leave currently provided for the third child of female government employees will be enhanced from 12 weeks to 365 days”.
Maternity leave is important because it gives mothers crucial time to heal physically from childbirth, care for their newborn, and adjust to major life changes. It protects a mother’s health, supports infant development, and keeps women connected to the workforce.
In 2011, the original 90-day maternity leave window was increased to six months, which was further boosted to nine months in 2016, and extended to one year (365 days) in July 2021 by the respective state governments at the time, led by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
The 365-day benefit is applicable to regular women employees with less than two surviving children as per the standard eligibility framework, news agency PTI reported, citing a government source.
However, as per the directives of the Supreme Court and subsequent state amendments, women employed by the state government with two or more surviving children are entitled to 12 weeks of maternity leave with full pay.
A detailed government order will be issued soon regarding this.
