Tamil Nadu Government Extends Maternity Leave for Third Child

Tamil Nadu has announced a major change in maternity leave provisions for women government employees. The state government has decided to extend maternity leave for employees who give birth to a third child from the existing 12 weeks to 365 days. With this decision, the maternity leave benefit available for the first two children will also be extended to the third child. The announcement was made by Human Resources Management Minister D. Sarathkumar during a discussion on the department’s demands in the state Assembly.

Under the existing rules, women government employees with fewer than two surviving children are eligible for up to 365 days of maternity leave. Those who already have two or more children were entitled to a maximum of 12 weeks, or 84 days, of fully paid maternity leave. The latest decision is understood to have been influenced by the Supreme Court’s observations that maternity benefits should not be denied in cases involving a third child. The move assumes added significance amid demographic changes in Tamil Nadu. At a workshop held on Sunday, Health Minister K.G. Arunraj said the state’s fertility rate had fallen below 1.4, significantly lower than the replacement level of 2.1. He also noted that nearly 16% of the state’s population is aged above 60, warning that the demographic shift could pose a major challenge in the future. The government may also explore policies aimed at encouraging couples to have a third child.