Maternity Benefit Bill 2016 passed in Rajya Sabha, here’s how Twitterati reacted

The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, protects the employment of women during the time of her maternity and entitles her full paid absence from work, to take care for her child.

Once the new law is enacted, India will jump to third position in terms of the number of weeks for maternity leave after Norway (44) and Canada (50), said Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya while replying to a debate on the legislation.

Cabinet on Wednesday had given ex-post facto approval to the amendments made to the Maternity Benefits Act, that aims to raise maternity leave to 26 weeks. “The very purpose of this Bill is to increase the working women force because in the work force, participation of women is decreasing day by day,” Dattatreya said.

Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi said her ministry had recommended raising maternity leave from 12 weeks to 8 months but it was considered too long for the employer.  The legislation will go a long way in ensuring that the future generations are healthier, she said as she noted that after giving birth, a woman’s body needs to heal over a period of time. “It is a very stressful time for the mother, who should be with the child”.

Highlighting that there are more nuclear families now, Gandhi said the bill has its roots in malnutrition, as breastfeeding the child is recommended which is not possible unless the mother is in physical proximity of the child.

Here is how everyone congratulated Maneka Gandhi and applauded the amendment:

Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma took to Twitter to congratulated after the bill was passed in Upper House.

Amendment to Maternity Benefit Act passed in RS.All working women to get 26 weeks maternity leave including the adopting mothers.Congrats.

— Dr. Mahesh Sharma (@dr_maheshsharma) August 11, 2016

Journalist Barkha Dutt reacted on the Bill being passed and wished that there would be equal considerations on paternity leaves too.

Good @Manekagandhibjp on Maternity Leave but I look for the day when Paternity Leave substantive. No Equality at Work minus Equality at Home

— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) August 10, 2016

Maharashtra minister Pankaja Munde congratulated Maneka Gandhi on the bill too.

I welcome passing of Amendment to Maternity Benefit Act in RS. Working women to get 26 weeks ML including adopting mothers @Manekagandhibjp

— PankajaGopinathMunde (@Pankajamunde) August 11, 2016

Journalist Rohit Gandhi called the Bill an important first step

Providing relief to working women through the #Maternity Benefit (amendment) Bill 2016 is an important first step to improving child health.

— Rohit Gandhi (@rohitgandhi_) August 11, 2016

Journalist Pallavi Ghosh said the maternity leave is not a holiday

👍@Manekagandhibjp for the maternity bill / she says ; maternity leave is not a holiday

— pallavi ghosh (@_pallavighosh) August 11, 2016

BJP Mumbai President, MLA from Bandra (west) assembly, Ashish Shelar praised the move and hoped for women would be away from work.

Maternity leave extended to six months!A big step in #WomenEmpowerment.I hope this inspires more women to enter worklife. Tks @narendramodi

— ashish shelar (@ShelarAshish) August 11, 2016