PATERNITY LEAVE: A NEED FOR BETTER PARENTING

ABSTRACT Every employee is granted with some kind of rights and benefits which are being written down in the form of labour laws. The labour laws derive its authenticity and strength from the Indian Constitution. Paternity leave is also a kind of scheme that is being provided by the employer to his employees but has not been made mandatory for all kind of employees through any piece of legislature. However, Civil servants are being provided with mandatory paternity leave of fifteen days under Rule 43A and 43AA of Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972. It is a scheme in which the male parent is provided with leave of few days either before or after the delivery date of his child. In India there is no as such provision which makes it compulsory in all the sectors. Even, though there are some organisations which provides its employees with such kind of rights. Paternity leave is a right of male parent and shall be provided to every employee without any discrimination between civil servants and other employees. The provision of paternity leave will help in better parenting of child as it is the joint responsibility of both the parents and will definitely help in changing the perception of society that it is the sole responsibility of women to take care of her child. Paternity leave will too help the husband to take care of his wife in the most critical situation when she needs both mental and physical support. In today’s scenario where both men and women are equally working in every field, paternity leave is a much needed scheme which shall be made mandatory through a piece of legislation.