Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has given his approval to extend maternity, child care, and child adoption leave to women soldiers, sailors, and air warriors, ensuring equal treatment across ranks. The decision aligns with Singh's vision of fostering "inclusive participation" for women in the armed forces, regardless of their rank, PTI reported.
This progressive move is expected to enhance the work-life balance for female military personnel, enabling them to juggle their professional and family responsibilities more effectively. Currently, women officers receive 180 days of maternity leave with full pay for each child (up to two children), along with 360 days of childcare leave throughout their service career (for children under 18 years of age). Additionally, child adoption leave of 180 days is granted upon the valid adoption of a child below one year of age.
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The ministry noted that this extension of leave rules is a significant step toward addressing women-specific family and social issues within the armed forces, ultimately improving the working conditions for women in the military.
In line with the Narendra Modi government's commitment to harnessing "Nari Shakti" (women power), the armed forces have led the way in breaking gender barriers by recruiting women as soldiers, sailors, and air warriors. Their contributions extend from operational deployment in challenging locations like Siachen to service on warships and aerial missions.
In 2019, a remarkable milestone was reached with the recruitment of women in the Indian Army as soldiers in the Corps of Military Police.
