Adopt a baby, earn leave

In a move that will make adoption easier for mothers, the Union government has decided to give maternity leave of 135 days ? earlier enjoyed by only natural mothers.

Women Central government employees who want to adopt children can now cheer. In a move that will make adoption easier for mothers, the Union government has decided to give maternity leave of 135 days — earlier enjoyed by only natural mothers — to women employees who adopt a child below one year of age.

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In a notification to the Orissa government, the Union Department of Personnel and Training, stated that, "A female government servant, with less than two children, on valid adoption of a child below the age of one year may be granted child adoption leave, by an authority competent to grant leave, for a period of 135 days immediately after the date of valid adoption." The new rules come in the wake of the Union government amending the Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules.

During the period of the adoption leave, the employee will be paid leave salary equal to the pay drawn immediately before going on leave. The other benefits she will enjoy - she can combine any other leave with this special child adoption leave to stay away from work for a longer period. But only 135 days will not be "debited" against the employee's "leave account". The child adoption leave has thus been brought on par with maternity leave.

The employee can also avail combined leave depending on the age of the adopted child. If the child is "less than a month old on the date of adoption," she can take leave for a year. In case the child is six months or above but less than seven months, she can remain absent from work for six months. If the child is nine months and above, but less than ten months, then leave up to three months may be allowed.

According to central government leave rules, a male employee with less than two children gets 15 days of paternity leave. The DoPT notification is, however, silent on paternity leave in case of child adoption.