[SasortFkire]

The state government has issued orders enhancing the maternity leave period to 180 days from the present 90 days for married woman employed in all its departments, which is one among the poll promises of chief minister Jayalalithaa.

As per the new order issued by V. Iraianbu on June 16, Secretary, Personnel and administrative reforms department, the 6 months leave may be spread over from the preconfinement rest to post confinement recuperation at the option of the women government servant. The maternity leave will be applicable only to married woman government servants with less than two surviving children.

The order further stated that the women government servants who had been on maternity leave, prior to the issue of the above said order and continuing that leave on or after May 16 (2010) were also eligible for extending their maternity leave for six months.

- - DC