NEW DELHI:
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has recommended a shift towards gender-neutral childcare leave, allowing either parent to avail leave to care for their children.
In a report containing 37 recommendations submitted to the government, the NCW said motherhood should not become a career penalty and called for measures to prevent discrimination against women during recruitment and employment because of maternity.
The commission recommended transforming the existing women-centric childcare leave framework into a gender-neutral system under which both parents could share caregiving responsibilities.
The recommendations seek to promote greater equality in childcare while ensuring that women do not face professional disadvantages because of pregnancy or maternity.
The NCW’s proposals are aimed at strengthening maternity and childcare-related legal provisions and encouraging shared responsibility between parents for raising children.