Chennai, Aug 19 — A political debate has erupted in Tamil Nadu after the state government announced that it would extend the maternity leave period from 12 weeks to 365 days for women government employees having their third child.
Under the existing provisions, married women employed in the government sector who have fewer than two children are entitled to 365 days, or one year, of maternity leave. However, women who already have two or more children are currently eligible for up to 12 weeks of maternity leave.
Tamil Nadu Human Resources Management Minister D. Sarathkumar announced the proposed change in the Assembly while responding to the demand for grants for his department.
The decision, however, has triggered questions from Congress, an ally of the ruling TVK, as the party raised concerns over whether families have sufficient resources to support a third child and whether such a policy could affect the state's progress on population management and family planning.
Congress MP Karti P Chidambaram, in a post on X, welcomed maternity leave but questioned the rationale behind extending the benefit to a third child.
"While maternity leave is most welcome, paternity leave should also be considered, but the government should not be encouraging a third child in families. Do families have the resources to support a 3rd child?"
Congress MP Manickam Tagore also welcomed the move to provide greater support to women but said the government needed to carefully consider the implications of extending the benefit to families having a third child.
Speaking to reporters, Tagore said: "Maternity leave is a very important step towards giving women more support and space. Considering the time and the challenges a mother goes through during this period, we welcome the decision of the Tamil Nadu Government. But the question is about the third child. Whether the Tamil Nadu Government has thought through this aspect is important."
"Moving from the two-child norm to the third-child norm is a huge step, especially because Tamil Nadu is a state where family planning has been managed in an organised manner, and because of this, we have succeeded in many areas," he added.
The Congress leaders' remarks have brought the issue of population control and the state's long-standing family planning policies into the political discussion, particularly in the context of Tamil Nadu's demographic trends.
Meanwhile, the Opposition DMK also criticised the government's position and said the TVK administration does not want to control the population.
Speaking to IANS, DMK spokesperson T.K.S. Elangovan said: "That is actually the policy of the government, which is only two children. But for the third child, we have reduced it because we don't want a third child in any house. That is, of course, to control the population, that's all. Beyond that, there is nothing. But this government does not want to control the population; that's all."
Taking a swipe at the opposition, he further said: "They have no new schemes at all. If we had given 365 days earlier, they would have given 365 days for the fourth child. That is the TVK."
The Shiv Sena said that while questions could be raised about the government's intention behind the decision, the move also reflected a greater effort to support women during pregnancy and after childbirth.
Shiv Sena spokesperson Shaina N.C., speaking to IANS, said, "Questions will certainly be raised about the objective and motive behind the Tamil Nadu government's decision. However, they are taking moral responsibility to provide greater provisions for women, because maternity leave is necessary. We welcome this women-centric decision."