Maternity leave not a holiday but stressful period: Maneka

11 August, New Delhi

Union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi Thursday said maternity leave is not a holiday, but a very stressful period for a woman.

Intervening in the debate on the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in the Rajya Sabha, aimed at increasing maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks, Ms Gandhi said this was the period when a woman needs time to heal herself and have a bonding with her child.

She said this Bill was aimed at reducing child mortality rate and curb malnutrition among mothers as well their offspring.

Ms Gandhi said the the Bill would also be extended for the mothers having adopted and surrogate children.

She said the Bill would make it mandatory for establishments with 50 or more employees to have a creche.

Ms Gandhi said she was grateful to the Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya for having accepted the request of the Ministry and bringing in this Amendment.