Jayalalithaa offers nine months’ maternity leave for govt employees in Tamil Nadu

The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday has fulfilled its election promise by increasing the maternity leave of government employees from six months to nine months. The announcement in this regard came from Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in the state Assembly today.

“In 2011, my government increased the maternity leave from 90 days to six months. Now, the government is increasing the maternity leave from six months to nine months,” she said.

Jayalalithaa-led government also announced crores of rupees as a part of mega plan for government hospitals across the state.

The Tamil Nadu government proposes to build more buildings at Madurai Rajaji Government Hospital, Kilpauk Government Hospital in Chennai and Coimbatore Government Medical College Hospital to set up vascular, cardio thoracic, plastic surgery, kidney, ENT and operation facilities for children.

“Hybrid OT, IVR rooms, post-operative care rooms, imaging and conference halls will be constructed in the above mentioned hospitals at a cost of Rs 356.50 crore. Similarly, in these hospitals equipment like c-arms, x-ray machines and MRI and CT scans will be provided. Training centres with simulators will also be set up in these hospitals. The total cost will be Rs 497.41 crore,” the CM said.

The general hospitals in Salem, Vellore, Thanjavur, Tirunelveli, Trichy and Tuticorin would also be upgraded by the state government.

Various equipments for mammography, CT scan, imaging, ultrasound and others at a cost of Rs 75.10 crore will also be provided in these hospitals.

“Erode, Tirupur, Cuddalore, Dindigul, Pudukottai, Krishnagiri and Periyakulam hospitals will be provided with imaging, CT scan, digital fluoroscopy, endoscopy and haemodialysis units at a cost of Rs 153.60 crore,” she added.

The announcement totalling Rs 131.43 crore to upgrade facilities in several small government hospitals has also been announced by Jayalalithaa.