Raghav Chadha's paternity leave plea: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha on Tuesday called for paternity leave to be made a legal right in India, arguing in the Parliament that caregiving responsibilities after childbirth must be shared equally between both parents. The AAP MP raised the issue in Rajya Sabha, noting that while both parents are congratulated at the birth of a child, the burden of caregiving disproportionately falls on women. He remarked, “A father should not have to choose between caring for his newborn and keeping his job,” underlining the need for structural reform.
Watch Chadha's tweet below:
https://twitter.com/raghav_chadha/status/2038839785280897287
Woman requires partner’s support, says Chadha
Further in the session, Chadha emphasised that a woman requires her partner’s support the most immediately after birthing a baby. He asserted, “The husband’s caregiving responsibility towards his wife is equally important. Our laws must reflect that,” while advocating a more inclusive framework for early parenting.
What is the state of paternity leaves in India now?
Notably, India lacks a uniform law mandating paternity leave in the private sector at present. While maternity benefits are guaranteed under the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, of the Indian Constitution, paternity leave policies are up to the discretion of individual companies, which often result in inconsistent provisions, ranging from no leave to only a few days.
Existing provisions confined to govt employees only
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Representative image[/caption]
It is noteworthy that under the Central Civil Services (Leaves) Rules, 1972, male government employees are entitled to 15 days of fully paid paternity leave, which can be availed within six months of childbirth, for up to two surviving children. However, a similar mandate is still lacking in the private sector, which often draws criticism. Efforts to legislate paternity leave are not new. Prior to this, late Congress MP Rajeev Satav in 2017 introduced the Paternity Benefit Bill, which included up to three months of leave. The bill, however, did not receive a nod.
Parineeti Chopra heaps praise on Chadha
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Parineeti Chopra and Raghav Chadha[/caption]
Chadha’s wife and Bollywood actress Parineeti Chopra expressed pride in his stance in the Parliament. Sharing a video of his speech online, she termed it ‘deeply personal,’ reflecting his role as a father. In her message posted on social media, she said that parenting is shared, not assigned. Furthermore, she drew attention to the struggles of mothers who often shoulder the responsibility of raising children alone, praising Chadha for bringing their concerns into Parliament.
Notably, Chadha has consistently raised issues of public interest in Parliament, such as mobile recharge rules, data rollover policies and consumer rights.
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