BENGALURU: The state National Health Mission (NHM) has granted 15-day paternity leave to its contractual employees working in Karnataka. Of the 11,029 employees, 3,090 are men. The leave is applicable to a maximum of two children from the date of delivery to 15 days thereafter.
NHM Chief Administrative Officer Dr Asha S, however, said, “There are many people who are well past the child-bearing years. Some already have two children. So, it is hard to say how many will benefit from it.”
The Karnataka Civil Services Conduct Rules already allows male employees to avail 15-day leave post child birth. Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi had last year said that Indian men use paternity leave as a holiday. She had said that if the men gave her an iota of hope that they use the leave for child care, she will consider mooting a proposal for paternity leave along the lines of maternity leave.
As of now, the maximum number of male employees are in Kalaburagi (215) and Belagavi districts (212). “The thing to note is that we have more female employees than male employees on contract basis in NHM because men mostly look for permanent jobs. It cuts through all categories from A to D. They are mostly field workers. With this leave, they might make it a point to look after their child after birth. But the sanctioning authority will be the respective district health officers,” Dr Asha said.
NHM Mission Director Rathan Kelkar said that the leave was applicable from June 22. The leave was already being offered to the regular employees, so there was nothing new about giving the same to those on contract. “I availed my paternity leave when my son was born. I have only one child, so I availed the leave only once,” he said in a lighter vein.