The Centre has decided to grant a 60-day special maternity leave for women Central government employees in case of stillbirth or death of an infant within a few days of birth, an order by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said.
Why?
- The DoPT said it had received several queries seeking clarification on grant of leave in case of death of a child soon after birth.
- Keeping in view the potential emotional trauma caused due to stillbirth or death of a child soon after birth, which has a far-reaching impact on the mother’s life, it has now been decided to grant a special maternity leave of 60 days to a female Central government servant.
What is stillbirth?
- The condition for death of a child soon after birth may be defined as up to 28 days after birth. A baby born with no signs of life at or after 28 weeks of gestation may be defined as stillbirth.
- The special maternity leave shall be given only to a woman Central government servant with less than two surviving children.
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