180 days maternity leave for female cooks, helpers in edu dept: CM Sukhu

The Himachal Pradesh government has decided to grant 180 days maternity leave to about 17,889 female cook cum helpers working in the education department under the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Tuesday.

Earlier, there was no such provision of maternity leave for the above category and necessary directions in this regard have been issued to the concerned department, he said in a statement issued here.

Sukhu said this decision of the government, which is working for the welfare of the vulnerable sections of the society, will fulfil the long pending demands of mid day meal workers.

The government is working with the aim of holistic development of the downtrodden with special focus on child care and women empowerment, he added.