Minister of State for Education, Technical Education, Culture, Tourism, Horticulture, Floriculture and Parks, Priya Sethi today said the Maternity Benefit Amendment Bill passed by the Parliament is going to ensure better health and wellbeing of the mother and child.The Minister said increase in maternity leave is a welcome provision that will protect the employment of the women. Hailing the Central Government for this historic step, Priya Sethi said that mandatory provision of crèche in offices is again a laudable decision which will help women take good care of their children while at work.Once the President gives his assent to the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2016, all working women in all establishments- public and private will be entitled to 26 weeks of maternity leave which will pave the way for healthy and secure mother and a well-nourished child, she asserted.
Priya Sethi said the Act will also help women who adopts a child below three months for the reason that she will be given 12 weeks leave from the date the child is handed over to her.Hailing the Central Government headed by Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi for this historic decision, Ms Sethi said that all establishments with 50 or more employees will also have to provide crèches once the bill becomes law.The Minister said that this will help thousands of women to groom much healthier children. Prior to passage of this Bill several children of working women used to get neglected who will now be taken care of by their mothers in a much better way and help country have healthy babies, she said.She said with this India will rank high in the developing countries to give maternity benefits to the working women.