Child Care Leave for West Bengal State Govt Employees

It’s time to rejoice for all women employees working with the Mamata Banerjee governmentcan now rejoice.

On ThursdayIn a major movethat will make hundreds of state employees happy, the state government will be placing a proposal in the cabinet to grant two years of “child care leave” (CCL) to women employees for two children till they are 18 years of age. This is apart from the maternity leave that they get during the birth of children.

Central government employees already enjoy this benefit and, if no one objects at Thursday’s cabinet meeting, then – there is no reason why anyone would -an order would shortly follow from the West Bengal government which will give the state employees the same benefit.

According to the Central government order that came into effect from September 1, 2008, “Women employees having minor children may be granted CCL by an authority competent to grant leave, for a maximum period of two years (730 days), during their entire service for taking care of upto two children whether for rearing or to look after any of their needs like examination, sickness etc.”

It can be taken in a single or separate spells and will be applicable only for as long as the children grow up to be 18 years of age. “During the period of such leave, the women employees shall be paid leave salary equal to the pay drawn immediately before proceeding on leave. CCL shall not be debited against the leave account.”

For Central government employees, the maternity leave has now been increased from 135 days to 180 days. In Bengal, while the former Left Front government had discussed increasing it similarly, as of now, maternity leave remains 120 days.

The proposal has long been pending. with the state government and After the new government was formed, a deputation was also placed before Mamata Banerjee so that this is introduced for state employees.

Before bringing the proposal, state officials have already examined the Central government order issued following the recommendation of the Sixth Central Pay Commission that led to the introduction of CCL for them from September 1, 2008.

According to a senior official, “there has been a huge demand for introducing CCL here. If and after it was already introduced by the Central government employees can get it, there is no reason why it could not be done for state employees as well.

source:Times Of India