The Central government’s decision to increase paid maternity leave for women in the organised sector to 26 weeks is a progressive step (Editorial – “Partial cover”, March 11).
In this connection, one must note that the World Health Organisation had also recommended exclusive breastfeeding of children for the first 24 weeks.
The move should be expanded to the unorganised sectors as a majority of the working women force is here. Besides maternity leave, mothers need nutritious food and medical facilities, either free or at subsided rates. The government should ensure these.
Bobbili Sridhara Rao, Hyderabad
I would also suggest that facilities to enhance opportunities for self-employment through household industries such as easy credit, free skill training in the making of marketable products and services, help in acquiring mobility through the use of cycles or scooters and baby care centres near their homes would help marginalised women retain their jobs after childbirth. Women labourers in the unorganised sector already face obstacles in the form of discriminatory wages, lack of job security and denial of government facilities. Hence, if the government resorts to inclusiveness in rendering labour rights to these women workers, they would continue to contribute to GNP.
Rameeza A. Rasheed,Chennai
It is quite poignant to see expectant women engaged in hard labour such as carrying sand or bricks as construction workers or as labourers in the MGNREGA programme. There must be suitable amendments to extend benefits to all women in the unorganised sector. As far as I know, government servants get 30 months of paid leave in the form of maternity and childcare leave. It would be totally unfair that such a benefit is kept away from the poor who slog for more than eight hours a day. The worst hit are the migrant labourers and their children.
Rettavayal S. Krishnaswamy, Chennai
