Now Reading: Karti Chidambaram criticises Tamil Nadu third child maternity leave plan
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Karti Chidambaram criticises Tamil Nadu third child maternity leave plan
Congress MP Karti Chidambaram has opposed the Tamil Nadu government's proposal to extend maternity leave to 365 days for women giving birth to their third child, saying he does not believe large families should be encouraged. The state government had announced the extension from the current 12 weeks as part of a new policy.
Chidambaram's remarks come amid a broader debate on population growth and family size in India. The Tamil Nadu government has not yet detailed the rationale for the move or its implementation timeline.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Tamil Nadu's total fertility rate has fallen below replacement level at 1.8, a concern for policymakers eyeing a shrinking workforce and ageing population. The state's move mirrors China's shift from one-child to three-child policy, but in India family size incentives remain politically sensitive, especially after the 2021 Uttar Pradesh population control bill that proposed disincentives for large families. The actual cost of the extended leave to the state exchequer and to employers is unclear, and the policy's impact on female workforce participation, already low in Tamil Nadu at around 30%, will be a key metric to watch.
Source: ndtv.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
