In yet another welfare measure, the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh decided to grant Maternity leave of 180 days to around 17,889 female cooks cum helpers (mid-day meal workers) working in the education department under Maternity Benefit Act, 1962 to ensure better mother-child care. Earlier, there was no such provision for maternity leave for the above category.
Chief Minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu disclosed here that necessary directions in this regard have been issued to the concerned department. The decision fulfils the long pending demand of mid-day meal workers, he stated.
Sukhu said the state government was working with the aim of holistic development of the downtrodden with a special focus on child care and women empowerment.
Sukhu added that since the formation of the government historic decisions were being taken with a special focus on the welfare of employees and other workers.
“In the very first cabinet meeting, it was decided to reinstate the OPS for the government employees thereby benefiting more than 1.36 lakh individuals.
This decision was not politically motivated but aimed to secure the future of the retirees so they could live a dignified life with family after their retirement,” he said.
He said the government was committed to the upliftment of the weaker and underprivileged sections of the society and had become the voice of vulnerable sections. “We are according them top priority to bring them into the mainstream of society. Many such initiatives are in the pipeline,” he said.
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