Child Care Leave: Congress MLA writes to Chief Secretary for contractual female employees

Agartala, Apr 05, 2025, By Our Correspondent

Agartala: April 05: Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman has written a letter to the Chief Secretary, urging the government to extend "Child Care Leave" (CCL) to contractual female employees in the state. In his letter, Barman highlighted the importance of maternal care, stressing that mothers—regardless of their employment status—should be entitled to take time off to care for their newborns. Currently, permanent female government employees are granted CCL, which allows them to balance their professional and familial responsibilities. However, contractual female employees, despite their significant contributions to various government departments, are denied this essential benefit.

Barman emphasized that female employees on contract are often the primary caregivers for their children and face considerable challenges in managing both work and family responsibilities. Without the option of CCL, many of these employees are forced to take unpaid leave, or worse, resign from their positions, resulting in financial strain and personal hardship. This, he argues, not only undermines their right to work while raising a child but also harms their economic stability.

The MLA called on the authorities to reassess the current policy and ensure that all female government employees—whether permanent or contractual—are afforded the same rights to child care leave. By extending CCL to contractual employees, the government would foster a more equitable and supportive work environment, enabling mothers to perform both their professional duties and maternal roles without unnecessary stress or financial burden. Barman’s letter is a call for fairness and recognition of the challenges faced by contractual workers, urging the authorities to take swift action to address this critical issue.