The Odisha government has issued new guidelines to bring clarity to maternity leave provisions for women working in government roles. The updated framework aims to resolve confusion regarding when maternity leave can be availed and what additional support is available in special circumstances.
Previously, women government employees were entitled to 180 days of maternity leave for up to two surviving children. However, there was no clear directive on the timeframe within which this leave could be taken. The new rules now define that maternity leave can be availed anytime between three months before the Expected Date of Delivery (EDD) and up to six months after childbirth.
In addition to streamlining the primary leave period, the government has also addressed unfortunate scenarios such as the death of a child shortly after birth. If a child dies between 29 and 120 days of birth, the mother will be eligible for 14 days of additional leave starting from the date of the child’s death. If the employee has already completed her initial 180-day maternity leave, this two-week period will be granted as a separate leave.
The revised guidelines are aimed at supporting women employees who may encounter complex or unforeseen medical situations. By setting a clear timeline and introducing provisions for exceptional cases, the government intends to reduce uncertainty and provide a more compassionate approach to maternity-related leave.
This is the administration’s way of ensuring that workplace policies are aligned with the health, emotional well-being, and rights of women employees, especially during such important and critical phases of life.