CHANDIGARH: In a landmark move to uphold the dignity and welfare of grassroots healthcare workers, Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Wednesday announced that Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and ASHA Facilitators working in Health and Family Welfare Department under the National Health Mission (NHM) will now be entitled to six months of maternity leave. This benefit will be extended under the provisions of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961.
Revealing this in a press communiqué issued here, Finance Minister Cheema said that this decision aligns with the government's existing policy of providing 180 days of fully paid maternity leave to all its female employees. He clarified that this leave will not be deducted from any other leave accounts. The Finance Minister also highlighted that the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, and a circular dated April 12, 2017, already cover all female employees, whether they are working on a contractual basis, as consultants, or through an agency. He said that the Finance Department had already granted approval for maternity benefits to contract, consultant, and outsourced employees.
“In light of this, the Finance Department has now officially approved the Health and Family Welfare Department's request to grant six months of maternity leave to ASHAs and ASHA Facilitators under the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961”, he added.
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that this decision is expected to have a transformative impact on the lives of ASHA workers, many of whom juggle demanding professional responsibilities with family and caregiving roles. “By institutionalizing maternity leave, the Punjab Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the health, dignity, and empowerment of women at the frontlines of public service”, he added