The Tamil Nadu government has announced that women government employees will now be entitled to 365 days of maternity leave for their third child, up from the existing 12 weeks.
Human Resources Management Minister D Sarathkumar made the announcement in the Assembly on August 18, during the debate on his department’s demand for grants. The move brings maternity leave for a third child on par with the one-year leave already available for the first two children.
“As the Tamil Nadu government is a welfare-oriented administration that prioritises social welfare and women’s empowerment, the maternity leave currently provided to women government employees for their third child will be increased from 12 weeks to 365 days,” Sarathkumar said.
Under the existing rules, women government employees with fewer than two surviving children are eligible for 365 days of maternity leave. Those with two or more surviving children are entitled to up to 12 weeks, or 84 days, of maternity leave with full pay.
The announcement comes amid growing concern over Tamil Nadu’s declining fertility rate and ageing population. Health Minister KG Arunraj recently said the state’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) had fallen below 1.4, significantly lower than the replacement level of 2.1. Nearly 16% of Tamil Nadu’s population is now aged above 60, he said, describing the demographic transition as a major public health challenge.
Recently, Arunraj, who was speaking at a workshop organised by the Obstetrics and Gynaecological Society of South India said that the government could consider measures to encourage families to have a third child.
He referred to reported incentives offered to couples in Andhra Pradesh for having a third child. Earlier in May, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had announced that the state would provide Rs 30,000 for the birth of a third child and Rs 40,000 for a fourth child, as part of efforts to reverse the state’s declining population trend.
Minister Sarathkumar also announced several other measures concerning the Human Resources Management Department.
An app called ‘Vetri Paathai’ will be developed at a cost of Rs 20 lakh to help students preparing for competitive examinations conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Railway Recruitment Board (RRB), Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) and other Central and state recruitment bodies, The Hindu reported.
A new building will be constructed at the TNPSC headquarters at a cost of Rs 12.5 crore, while a CCTV surveillance system will be installed at the Tamil Nadu Information Commission for Rs 10 lakh.
At the Government Training Institute in Bhavanisagar, a computer laboratory with modern infrastructure will be established at a cost of Rs 1 crore. Sports facilities will also be developed at the institute at a cost of Rs 2.25 crore, he said.