Raghav Chadha Calls for Legal Right to Paternity Leave in Parliament
Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha urged the government to introduce a legal right to paternity leave so fathers can support newborn children and their partners.
Raghav Chadha raises issue of paternity leave
Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha has raised an important issue in Parliament by demanding that paternity leave should be made a legal right in India. He argued that fathers should also receive time off from work to care for their newborn children and support their partners after childbirth.
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha Chadha said that while society celebrates the birth of a child by congratulating both parents the responsibility of childcare often falls almost entirely on the mother.
Need for equal parental responsibility
According to Chadha the current system focuses mainly on maternity leave while overlooking the important role of fathers during the early days after a child birth. He described this imbalance as a social gap that needs attention.
He emphasized that fathers should not be forced to choose between their professional responsibilities and their role within the family when a baby is born.
Support needed during childbirth recovery
Chadha explained that pregnancy and childbirth are physically and emotionally demanding experiences for mothers. After nine months of pregnancy women go through either normal delivery or surgical procedures which require recovery time and care.
During this period he said emotional and physical support from the husband becomes extremely important for both the mother and the newborn child.
Paternity leave common in many countries
The Rajya Sabha member also pointed out that paternity leave has already been recognized as a legal right in several countries around the world. However the duration salary coverage and eligibility rules vary depending on national policies.
He cited examples of countries such as Sweden Iceland and Japan where fathers are provided guaranteed paternity leave ranging from ninety days to as long as fifty two weeks.
Call for similar policy in India
Chadha urged the government to consider implementing similar policies in India so that fathers can actively participate in early childcare and family responsibilities.
He noted that nearly ninety percent of the workforce in India is employed in the private sector where paternity leave benefits are often unavailable or limited. According to him introducing legal provisions for paternity leave would help promote balanced parenting and strengthen family support systems.
