New Delhi, February 13: In what is believed to be a revolutionary step in promoting gender equality and providing equal financial benefit to females, the government on Monday said that women government employees having a child by surrogacy are now eligible to get maternity leave. The employees can avail of paid maternity leaves up to 26 weeks.  Also, the divorced daughter will be eligible for the family pension if divorce case has been filed before the death of pensioner/family pensioner, even though the judgment has been passed after the death of the pensioner/family pensioner.

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, while briefing media announced that Constant Attendant Allowance on disability pension has been increased from Rs 4,500 per month to Rs 6,750 per month. These are not only financial reforms but also social reforms keeping in mind the futuristic society, he added. Briefing the media, Singh said that the emphasis of the Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been on the welfare of weaker sections.

The Minister also highlighted other initiatives of the Government such as Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, Startup India, Stand up India and Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. He said that the focus of the Budget this year has been on the senior citizens. Various achievements of DoPT were highlighted on the occasion e.g. electronic-Human Resource Management System (e-HRMS) launched on Good Governance Day i.e. 25th December 2017, launching of Online System for Monitoring of Disciplinary Proceedings launched for expediting the proceedings against government employees involved in corruption cases and Certificates of Excellence for RTI Request & Appeals Management Information System in various categories, among others.

In 2016, the Union Cabinet approved the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill. The bill "proposes a complete ban on commercial surrogacy in the country and will allow only legally wedded Indian couples married for at least five years to have children through surrogacy. The bill also says that potential surrogate mothers can only be chosen from among "close relatives" of "authorized couples". Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj said the Bill comes as India has emerged as a surrogacy hub for couples and incidents reported on unethical practices.

Swaraj had condemned the misuse of altruistic surrogacy saying 'what was started for convenience has become a luxury' today. The minister had said that the Bill prohibits commercial surrogacy and allows ethical surrogacy to needy infertile couples. “It also prohibits Single parents, homosexual couples, live-in relationships couples to opt for altruistic surrogacy,” added Swaraj.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 13, 2018 04:35 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).