Why India is reluctant towards getting paid paternity leave

 Why India is reluctant towards getting paid Paternity leave 

                            (By Pashmeen Kaur ) 

Image By:- Sandeep

What is the image in your mind when you hear the word bread earner? For an Indian kid, definitely he visualizes his father. Fathers are the role of bread earners of the family while mothers are given the role of caregivers. This identity has been handed down for generations and the roles are stereotyped in the society. But now, times have changed. Both the parents are now the bread earners of the family. But has there been any change in the role of caregiver? Not much. Women are still expected to juggle their careers and the role of a mother. While the father still sticks to the role of just the bread earner. Even if the parents share their responsibilities, the society hardly acknowledges them. Often we hear friends and relatives are inquiring a new mother about how is she managing both her roles. But fathers are never asked about their role in the life of the child. Society still feels that the child is solely the mother’s responsibility. Fathers have a secondary role in a child’s life. Often we find women resigning from their job once a baby is born. But a father never does that. Society has a huge divide between the roles of the father and the mother.

Maternity leave vs. Paternity Leave:

Maternity Leaves are common in India. Every organization provides six months of paid maternity leave for a new mother after her baby is born. A woman takes on a new role and she is given time by all. During these six month period, the mother heals her physical health and devotes her time entirely to the newborn. Babies have erratic schedules of sleep. In the beginning, it becomes difficult for the mother to mould her schedule according to her baby’s need. But as time passes by, the mother is now habituated. These six months’ time is provided to her so that she can balance her new role and blend it with her life. Maternity leaves are always paid as per the company’s policy. She still receives her monthly paycheck. If the mother requires some more maternity leave, she uses her earned leave balance or switch to unpaid maternity leave. But the organizations are empathetic towards the mother and generously grants them leaves for the baby’s healthy growing up.

But, the situation is never so smooth in the case of paternity leaves. Most of the employees are unaware of this leave. Also, the organization is not very supportive of the paternity leave. We have just fifteen days of paternity leaves which are paid. These leaves can be taken either fifteen days before the delivery or within six months after the baby is born. If the father requires some extra leaves, he needs to use his earned leave balance or go for an unpaid paternity leave. A father is given just fifteen days’ time to wholeheartedly look after his baby. The mother requires intensive care after the delivery process. The first fifteen days are very crucial for the father. He needs to take care of his wife who in the process of healing and also needs to take care of the newborn. But after fifteen days he is forced to join back in the organization, as his paid paternity leaves are over. Fathers, sometimes, are awake the whole night to keep up with the newborn’s sleep schedule. Yet, the next day, he is forced to attend his office or his leaves will get deducted. A father’s hands are tied even if he wants to spend extra time with the family. Paternity leaves are hardly acknowledged. The organization frowns upon the new father if he asks for more leaves after fifteen days. This makes the role of the father extremely difficult to manage.

Role of the Father:

The role of the father is equally important as the role of the mother in the upbringing of a child. Though mothers are primary caregivers and they are blessed with the ability to breastfeed their babies yet after a few months, the roles are equally balanced. Parents can distribute their responsibilities towards the child. A child needs both his parents for healthy growth. But our society has always given second preference to the father in the role of the caregiver. This stigmatized view of the society makes a father’s job extremely difficult. 

It is time we move towards a change. A change of giving equal priority to both the parents’ role. This will make a career oriented woman’s life less difficult as she will have someone to share her responsibilities with. We often hear arguments about increasing the duration of paid maternity leaves. But hardly is there any discussion regarding paternity leaves. This stigmatized topic needs to be discussed in public forums. The Government should make amendments in the paternity leave. Fathers need to be acknowledged and given their due. India needs to get rid of its stigma regarding the differences in the parents’ role. Let us all march towards a more liberal nation of ours…

 

 

Disclaimer:-

The opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of Light de Literacy and LDL does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.