Tamil Nadu government's gift to female government employees: One year of maternity leave upon the birth of a third child..

The Tamil Nadu government has announced a significant benefit for its female government employees. The government has decided to extend the duration of maternity leave granted upon the birth of a third child. This period will now match the leave entitlement provided for the first two children. Maternity leave for the birth of a third child will now be 365 days (one year), whereas previously, it was limited to 12 weeks (three months).

Under the earlier rules, female government employees with fewer than two surviving children were entitled to 365 days of maternity leave, while those with two or more surviving children received up to 12 weeks of leave.

**Announcement made by the Minister in the Assembly**

D. Sarathkumar, the Minister for Human Resources Management in the Tamil Nadu government, announced in the Assembly—during the discussion on demands for grants for his department—that the state government prioritizes social welfare and women's empowerment. Consequently, the maternity leave for female government employees upon the birth of a third child will be increased from 12 weeks to 365 days.

Sarathkumar stated that the government would soon issue a detailed official order to implement this new rule.

**Evolution of maternity leave in Tamil Nadu**

It is worth noting that maternity leave provisions in Tamil Nadu have undergone continuous changes. Initially, standard maternity leave was increased from 90 days to six months in 2011. Subsequently, in 2016, it was extended from six months to nine months. Later, the then-state governments led by the AIADMK and DMK increased it from nine months to one year (365 days) in 2021. Now, the government has taken a new decision to grant 365 days of leave for the birth of a third child as well.

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