New Delhi: All central government women employees will be entitled for a special 60-day maternity leave in case of a child’s death at or shortly after birth. An order to this effect was issued on Friday by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
According to reports, DoPT has been receiving several references/queries requesting for clarification pertaining to grant of leave/maternity leave in case of death of a child soon after birth/stillbirth.
“The matter has been considered in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Keeping in view the potential emotional trauma caused due to stillbirth or death of a child soon after birth, which has a far-reaching impact on the mother’s life, it has now been decided to grant a special maternity leave of 60 days to a female central government servant in case of death of a child soon after birth/stillbirth,” the order stated.
The benefit of special maternity leave shall be allowed only to a woman central government employee with less than two surviving children and for child delivery only in an authorised hospital such as government hospital or private hospital empanelled under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS).
DoPT also added that in case a maternity leave has already been availed by a female central government servant and her leave continues till the date of death of child soon after birth/stillbirth, the maternity leave already availed till death of the child may be converted into any other kind of leave available in her leave account without insisting for a medical certificate and a special maternity leave of 60 days may be granted from the date of death of child soon after birth/stillbirth.
However, in case the maternity leave has not been availed by a female central government servant, 60 days of special maternity leave may be granted from the date of death of child soon after birth/ stillbirth.
(With inputs from PTI)
