Odisha MLA Seeks Maternity Leave For Students Pursuing Higher Studies

Bhubaneswar: A BJP legislator has sought maternity leave for women students pursuing higher studies to bring down dropout rate in Odisha.

In a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Loisingha MLA Mukesh Mahaling has suggested provisions of maternity leave/childcare leave to women students pursuing undergraduate/post-graduate or PhD courses.

He said though the University Grant Commission (UGC) had issued a direction to vice-chancellors of universities in the state to take steps in this regard two years back, no action has been initiated till date.

The UGC directed the VCs to frame appropriate rules with regard to granting maternity leave/childcare leave to the women students enrolled in their universities and affiliated colleges to provide relaxation/exemption relating to attendance, extension in date for submitting examination form or any other facility deemed necessary for women students pursuing undergraduate/post-graduate programme.

“When married women students get pregnant while pursuing the higher studies, they face difficulties to maintain their required attendance due to health reasons. As a result, they become ineligible to appear at the examinations, forcing them to drop out during mid-term. It also causes disruption in their academic career,” the MLA said in the letter.

“In view of above facts, I suggest to the Odisha government to frame rules for granting maternity leave/childcare leave as per the direction of UGC along with making provision for teaching in virtual mode to women students during maternity leave,” the MLA said.