By Our Reporter
Shillong: Despite of having a matrilineal set up, Meghalaya has fallen short in providing its women employees the basic maternity benefits recommended by the Sixth Pay Commission.
The Commission had enhancement of maternity leave up to six months (180 days) from 135 days besides recommending 15 days of paternity leave along with 2 years of child care leave.
Mizoram is the only state in the North East which has implemented these recommendations.
“A number of states have implemented these new benefits but Meghalaya is, surprisingly, not providing its women employees this basic facility,” the coordinator of Education International/ Australian Education Union (AEU) Shashi Kala Sing said.
Sing was addressing the valedictory function of the two-day workshop on maternity protection benefits organised by the All Meghalaya Primary School Teachers’ Association (AMPSTA) in city on Thursday.
Disappointed over the pathetic service conditions of women employees of the state especially the non-government employees, Sing said “How can we say that a woman in Delhi is different from a woman in Meghalaya? We can’t differentiate the role of a woman as mothers no matter which country or state they belong to.”
Stating that the Parliament had enacted the maternity benefits Act, 1961 to give protection to women workers, the EI coordinator said Meghalaya is yet to declare any of the benefits applicable as per the Act.
According to the maternity benefits Act, 1961, women employees are entitled to maternity leave, economic benefits during absence from work, leave for bringing up children and non-termination of service during pregnancy and immediately after delivery.
Speaking as the chief guest, Urban Affairs Minister M Ampareen Lyngdoh admitted that she was not aware of these recommendations saying “this issue has never been brought to her notice.”
Stating that women often allow themselves to be taken by situations which often demean their strength, Lyngdoh said “we are all victims of our own professions.”
The others who were also present at the function includes president of AMPSTA M Dutta, Vice president H Duia, general secretary FC Shullai, president and general secretary of the association from Garo Hills and teachers from all over the State.