Motherhood undoubtedly is one of the best times for a woman. The joy it brings can’t be compared to anything else in the world. However, for working mothers the time just isn’t sufficient. Maternal care needs time, World Health Organisation's mandate to exclusively breastfeed the child for the first six months is overwhelming for them, and often comes at the cost of a mother’s career.
The scene is now about to change, with amendments in the Maternity Benefit Act mothers will now get a 26 week long break to be with their child.
“The new maternity law is almost life changing for me!” exclaims Anshu, IT project lead at Infosys and a mother of one, “I wasn’t planning for another child as my career would have suffered, I already took a year long sabbatical with my first one. Taking it again was out of question!”
Sunita, a journalist with leading day goes on to share that, “It is next to impossible for a married woman in India, to take a decision of not having a child for the same of one’s career progression. Husband and family show support in initially but, slowly begin to withdraw.... I am in a very dynamic occupation where I need to continuously reinvent myself to be in the game. I had been deferring the opportunity to be a mother for five years now, because it could have either hampered my career or my child would have had to learn to be without me. This act is real welcome change.”
The revolutionary bill has been passed in the Rajya Sabha and is pending approval in Lok Sabha. There has been a strong speculation that bill will surely be agreed on and the law will be enforced soon for the betterment of all.