On behalf of all the female teachers of Universities/Colleges of Bihar, we appeal to you to look into denial/inordinate delays in the sanction of 180 days of Maternity leave which has been granted by the Central government under the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 and the Child Care leave which the Government of Bihar has already notified vide letter no. 3/F-01-41/2014… - 640/V dated 19.01.2015 under the Bihar Services (second amendment) Act, 2014 and the subsequent letter of Governor Secretariat’s (letter no. BSU (Statute)-07/2013, 2029 /GS(I), dated 05-07-2019).

Citing non-incorporation of revised Maternity leave and Child Care Leave provisions in the Service statute of Teachers in the colleges/Universities of Bihar as the reason, female teachers are being either denied or inordinately delayed in granting of sanction letter for the said leave. Child Care leave is supposed to help female teachers look after their children during their illnesses or examinations. Clauses in the Child Care leave notification like "Child care leave may not be claimed as a matter of right" and "Any employee may not proceed on Child care leave without proper permission of the leave by the sanctioning authority" often defeats the purpose of this leave. We are either being denied this leave or there is so much delay in sanctioning that it defeats the sole purpose of taking the leave. I, myself, was granted this leave after more than Two years of submitting my application, and that too, after multiple reminders via email, post, and physical visits to the University office.

While the need for proper maternity leave is extremely important for the better health of both the new mother and her newborn baby , Child Care leave provides a great relief to female employees (teachers) to look after their children during illness or examinations. Also, unlike earlier when joint family systems were common, in today's nuclear family culture it helps a new mother look after her breastfeeding/ weaning child/ toddler which otherwise they have to leave behind with their domestic help or bring along with them to their workplaces (without any creche facility). This is a cause of great mental stress to the lady teachers.

In such conditions of no suitable work environment and flexible leave rules not made or being implemented properly, many female teachers are forced by circumstances to take ‘Leave without Pay’ and stay at home to take care of their children. In some extreme cases of newly employed young female teachers, some have even preferred resignation over leaving their young kids at home alone. 

We too have worked hard to make our way to this position and just because we have to perform dual duties as both mothers and teachers in society, we should not be placed in a difficult situation to choose between them. Maternity leave and Childcare leave are not comforting holidays for us. It is very important for:-

i. Proper upbringing of children of female employees, 

ii. Healthy workplace environment

iii. Better family environment for the female employees

So, please sign my petition and join me as I request our Honorable Chancellor, Sir, to;

1. Incorporate the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 and Child Care leave in the Service statutes of the Universities of Bihar

2. Assign a time limit within which to reply to both Maternity leave and Child Care leave application, i.e. either sanction it or give a reason to decline it. 

# Maternity/Childcare leave is not a Comfort holiday