Bhubaneswar, May 21: In a significant decision aimed at supporting women in the state’s public sector workforce, the Government of Odisha has issued clear and specific regulations regarding maternity leave.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has approved a proposal that provides women government employees with defined rights and procedures concerning maternity leave, eliminating previous confusion and challenges faced in its implementation.
Key highlights of the new maternity leave policy:
180 days of maternity leave:
A woman government employee will be eligible for up to 180 days of maternity leave for the birth of up to two living children.
Leave timing window:
The leave can be availed in one stretch or in different phases, but it must fall between three months before the Expected Delivery Date (EDD) and up to six months after it.
Provision for non-serving employees at Delivery Time:
Women who were not in government service at the time of childbirth but join later can still avail maternity leave, provided the child is less than six months old. However, the leave period will be adjusted accordingly and may be less than 180 days.
Mandatory delivery at recognized health institutions:
The childbirth must occur at a recognized medical institution to be eligible for maternity benefits.
Special provisions in cases of miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death:
Miscarriage, stillbirth (after 28 weeks of pregnancy), or death of a newborn within 28 days of birth: The employee is entitled to 42 days of maternity leave from the date of the incident.
Death of a child between 29 to 120 days post-delivery: 14 days of additional leave will be granted from the date of death. If regular maternity leave has ended, the 14 days will be treated as separate maternity leave.
Example-Based Clarifications:
The notification includes detailed real-life examples clarifying eligibility in various situations, such as:
A woman joining government service after delivery still qualifies for partial maternity leave until the child turns six months old.
If the newborn passes away during the ongoing maternity leave or shortly after, the duration of leave will be extended based on the nature and timing of the incident.
Promotion during maternity leave:
If an employee is promoted during maternity leave, her joining in the new post will be considered effective from the date her promotion acceptance report (in hard or soft copy) is received by the competent authority.
Flexibility in availing leave:
Maternity leave can be taken in a single uninterrupted block or split into multiple phases as per the employee’s convenience and medical needs.
