Maha govt gives nod to special child care leave of 180 days

In a historic decision, Maharashtra government has given nod to a proposal to give child care paid leave of 180 days to women employees till their children attain 18 years of age. The decision is likely to impact over four lakh female government employees in the state. Women with two children or men whose wife has passed away can also avail this leave for bringing up the child. 

Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar informed that state Cabinet today gave nod for the proposal for special child care leave proposal. Maharashtra State Gazetted Officers’ Organization founder and advisor G D Kulthe said that it was a welcome decision and 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 wife. 

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 maximum thrice. The leave can be given till children reach 18 years. Mungantiwar informed that children need parents at the time of important examinations like tenth and 12’th and that is the reason this 180-day leave can be availed till children become 18 years of age.