Expecting mothers in Tamil Nadu who have already given birth to twins can finally breathe a sigh of relief. The government has announced that they are eligible for maternity leave for their next delivery as well.
The government does not provide maternity leave beyond the second pregnancy unless the first delivery was to twins.
A government order passed by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms on June 20 reads, “..instances have come to the notice that some women Government servants were denied Maternity leave for the second delivery since they have two surviving children already because of the twin births during their first delivery and also favourable orders are obtained from the courts in this regard.”
The state government also announced that maternity leave will be granted to women employees of the government who have less than two surviving children.
The order also takes into consideration the previous orders issued by the Tamil Nadu government with regard to maternity leave. In a Government Order issued in November 2016, the state government increased maternity leave for women from 180 days(six months) to 270 days(nine months).
In 2016, then Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa had enhanced maternity leave from six months to nine months. The government order came following her announcement at the TN Assembly to increase maternity leave from 180 days to 270 days. In 2011, she had increased the duration from three months to six months after assuming office.
However, it is only now that the maternity leave has been extended to mothers with two surviving children, provided they are twins.