Tamil Nadu extends 365-day maternity leave to third child

Chennai, Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay announced a new policy that grants state government employees 365 days of maternity leave for a third child, matching the entitlement provided for the first two children. This extension was part of a comprehensive package of welfare, healthcare, and education initiatives announced by the government in the Legislative Assembly.

Other significant measures included a five-fold increase in health insurance coverage for families, raising the annual treatment limit under the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme from Rs500,000 to Rs2.5 million per beneficiary family. The government also announced the establishment of seven new government nursing colleges and the creation of 6,098 additional seats in medical, nursing, and paramedical courses.

Additionally, all 234 members of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly will receive a government vehicle and Rs75,000 per month for vehicle-related expenses, including a driver, fuel, and maintenance, as well as Rs25,000 per month for a secretary to handle constituency correspondence and other official work. This support package aimed to enable legislators to perform their duties effectively, particularly for first-time legislators and those from economically modest backgrounds.