NEW DELHI: The CM Vijay-led Tamil Nadu government announced that women working in the state government will be entitled to 365 days of maternity leave for a third child, bringing it in line with the leave available for the first two children.At present, women government employees with fewer than two surviving children are eligible for one year of maternity leave. Those with two or more surviving children are entitled to up to 12 weeks of leave.Announcing the change in the state assembly during the demand for grants for his department, minister D Sarathkumar said the decision was aimed at strengthening the state's focus on social welfare and women's empowerment."Under these circumstances, as the Tamil Nadu government is a welfare-oriented administration prioritising social welfare and women's empowerment, the maternity leave currently provided for the third child of female government employees will be enhanced from 12 weeks to 365 days," D Sarathkumar said.

The state had gradually increased maternity leave for its women employees over the years. The original 90-day provision was increased to six months in 2011, followed by an increase to nine months in 2016.

It was extended to 365 days in July 2021.Under the existing eligibility framework, regular women employees with fewer than two surviving children are eligible for 365 days of maternity leave, a government source told news agency PTI.Women government employees who already have two or more surviving children, however, are currently entitled to 12 weeks, or 84 days, of maternity leave with full pay, in accordance with Supreme Court directions and subsequent amendments made by the state.The latest announcement will extend the one-year maternity leave benefit to the third child as well.A senior government official said a detailed government order would be issued soon to implement the announcement made in the assembly.