Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Mar 31: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Tuesday called on the government to make paternity leave a statutory right for employees across all sectors in India.

Speaking in Parliament, Chadha described the current system as a “societal failure enforced by law,” noting that while both parents are congratulated at a child’s birth, caregiving responsibilities overwhelmingly fall on mothers. He highlighted that legal provisions currently recognise only maternity leave, leaving fathers with little support to care for newborns.

“A father should not have to choose between caring for his newborn and keeping his job. Similarly, a mother should not have to endure childbirth and recovery without her husband’s support,” he said. Chadha stressed that the period immediately following childbirth is when a mother requires maximum physical, emotional, and mental support, especially after nine months of pregnancy and recovery from either normal or cesarean delivery.

He emphasized that the husband’s presence is “not a luxury but a necessity,” underlining that shared caregiving responsibilities are essential for both parents.

Chadha also highlighted the current gap in India’s paternity leave provisions. At present, only Central government employees are entitled to 15 days of paternity leave, while the private sector offers no mandatory entitlement. Citing international examples, he noted that countries like Sweden, Iceland, and Japan provide fathers with leave ranging from 90 days to 52 weeks, enabling shared parental care.

With nearly 90 per cent of India’s workforce employed in the private sector, the vast majority of fathers are excluded from paternity benefits. Chadha urged the government to enact legislation granting paternity leave as a legal entitlement, asserting, “Caregiving is not just the responsibility of the mother, but a shared responsibility of both parents. Our laws must reflect that.”