In second term, Arunachal CM Pema Khandu prioritises maternity benefits, healthcare

Earlier the benefits were available only to regular state government employees. The move will benefit over 20,000 female contingency and contractual employees in various departments.

Updated on: Jun 2, 2019, 18:10:39 IST

Hindustan Times, Itanagar | By Utpal Parashar

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu began his second innings in the office on Sunday with a decision to extend maternity and childcare benefits to contingency and contractual staff working in state government departments.

Earlier the benefits were available only to regular state government employees. The move will benefit over 20,000 female contingency and contractual employees in various departments.

The first file signed by Khandu after assuming office deals with providing 180 days of maternity benefit and 60 days of the child care leave to all women contract and contingency staff.

Khandu, who has been at the helm in Arunachal Pradesh since July 2016, took oath on Wednesday after the BJP recorded its first electoral victory in the state by winning 41 of the 60 seats in the state assembly.

Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)), the second largest party with 7 seats, and National People’s Party with 5 seats, have decided to provide unconditional support to the BJP government.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.