A male government employee in Maharashtra will be eligible for childcare leaves in case his spouse is bedridden or unable to take care of the children due to mental health problems
Male government employees in Maharashtra will be entitled to 180 days of special leave to look after their children in case their spouses are unable to do so due to mental health problems or are bedridden, according to a reportby The Hindu.
The Devendra Fadnavis-led state government had on July 23 issued directions on sanctioning childcare leave to male employees.
On December 15, the state issued a Government Resolution (GR) on the matter titled “Grant of Child Rearing Leave to the Government and Other Employees”. According to this GR, a male government employee is now eligible for childcare leaves in case their spouse is bedridden or unable to take care of the children due to mental health problems.
Besides state government employees, Zilla Parishad teaching and non-teaching staff, their counterparts in recognised and aided educational institutions, agriculture and non-agricultural universities and colleges affiliated to them will be entitled for the special leave, the GR added.
It is unclear if the leaves will be ‘paid leaves’.
As per the order issued in July, the government had mentioned that the leaves can be availed by a male employee for his first two children who are below 18 years of age. It can be taken for the exact period the spouse is bed-ridden and not capable to look after their children.
The maximum number of this leave would be 180 days annually, which can be availed in three spells in a calendar year.
The leaves can be linked to paternity leaves as well, the report suggests.
While the staff on probation will not be eligible for these leaves, special childcare leave for a minimum period can be sanctioned and the probation period of the staff increased accordingly in case of emergencies.
The GR specifies that these leaves cannot be considered as the employee’s right and that they will be given only after due sanction from the authority, the report adds.
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