Govt cancels teachers’ childcare leave for 3 months

Claims women employees misusing it | Teachers allege govt ignoring service rules

What rules say

• Women government employees are entitled to get childcare leave for 730 days in continuation or in parts, subject to their need
• Childcare leave is granted to that woman employee, whose child is below the age of 18

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, November 29

After getting reports that women teachers were “misusing” childcare leave, the state Education Department has denied them of this right for the next three months. As per a letter issued by the Education Department (in possession of The Tribune), no childcare leave will be sanctioned to any woman employee till the end of February.

“Teachers have been denied childcare leave in December, January and February. Even no district education officer (DEO), school principal, head teacher will send recommendation in this regard. If someone defies these orders, disciplinary action will be initiated against her,” reads the copy of the order.

Women government employees are entitled to get childcare leave for 730 days in continuation or in parts, subject to their need.

A government teacher said the childcare leave was granted to that woman employee, whose child is below the age of 18. She said, “This can be availed after filling a pro forma, mentioning the exact reason of leave required. The higher authorities sanction it after some recommendation is given. It can be availed in case your child is ill, child’s examinations, sports activities, coaching purposes and other matters where the child needs his/her mother.” She further alleged, “The department has ignored the service rules by issuing such an order.”

Jaspal Monga, Deputy District Education Officer, Muktsar, said, “As per the order, no fresh childcare leave will be sanctioned to any woman employee of our department for the next three months.”

On the reason behind taking the decision, he said, “It had come to the notice of top officials that some teachers were misusing childcare leave.”

Courtesy: The Tribune