Rights Body Directs Odisha Govt To Provide Creche Facility In Its Offices

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has directed the state government to provide creche facility in its offices having at least 50 employees within 6 months.

The Commission issued the direction on Friday after hearing a petition filed by five lawyers in October, 2019. The petitioners stated that as per Rule 11 of the Maternity Benefit Act (amended in 2017), it is mandatory for establishments having 50 or more women employees to offer creche facility with the employers bearing the cost.

But creche facility has not been made in any state government office, be it Secretariat, Toshali Bhawan or Orissa High Court, they pointed out and sought the intervention of the OHRC.

The OHRC had issued a notice to the Women and Child Development (WCD) department in this regard and principal secretary of the department in his response in November, 2021 stated that letters have been issued to all establishments to make provide the facility.

The full bench of the Commission, headed by Chairman Justice Bijoy Krushna Patel, members Justice Raghubir Dash and Asim Amitabh Dash, heard the petition and response on Friday and issued the direction to chief secretary and principal secretary, Women and Child Development department to make provision of creche facility in government offices within six months.