Tamil Nadu policewomen to get one-year maternity leave

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has announced one year of maternity leave for Tamil Nadu policewomen. He also declared that women officers, after completing their maternity leave, would be given the option to be posted in districts where their family or their spouse’s family resides.

This arrangement will last for three years, providing them with crucial exemption from the usual seniority requirements.

CM Stalin shared this development during an event in Chennai, where police officers receiving the President’s, Union Home Minister’s or Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s medals were honoured. He noted that the decision was made in response to numerous requests from women police personnel who faced challenges in balancing childcare responsibilities with their demanding roles.

The announcement builds on the DMK government’s earlier decision, made after coming to power in 2021, to extend maternity leave for government employees from nine months to one year.

The chief minister emphasised the critical role that policewomen play in addressing crimes against women and children. He announced that special training programmes would be introduced to develop their skills in handling cases related to kidnapping and cybercrimes, particularly those targeting women and children.

He also paid tribute to his late father and predecessor, former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M Karunanidhi, who, he said, had been instrumental in modernising the state’s police force. He urged every police officer in Tamil Nadu to pledge to maintain a crime-free environment within their jurisdiction, asserting that such a commitment would lead to a significant reduction in crime rates across the state.

Stalin said he was confident that these new initiatives would further contribute to making Tamil Nadu a safer and more secure place.

Senior police officials, ministers, and MLAs were also in attendance at the event held on August 23.