Nursing Mothers are Vulnerable, Allow them to Work from Home: Centre to States

NEW DELHI: The Union Labour Ministry has advised State Governments and Union Territories to encourage nursing mothers to work from home as they are more vulnerable to the pandemic.

In an advisory on Tuesday, it said nursing mothers are vulnerable to the pandemic and need to be protected. They should be encouraged to work from home under the enabling provision of Section 5(5) of the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017.

"The State Governments and UTs have been further requested that advisories may be issued to the employers for allowing nursing mothers to work from home as per section 5(5) of the Act wherever nature of work so allows," a government release said.

This will enable nursing mothers to continue to work and contribute to a happy workforce, it said.

On the other hand, the Assam government announced financial assistance of Rs 3500 per child per month. This will be given to all those children who lost their parents to COVID.

"We will get the support of Govt of India for this up to Rs 2000 per child per month under the existing scheme," Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said announcing the launch of 'Chief Minister Sishu Seva Scheme'.

For children below 10 years and adolescent girls without guardians, the Assam government will take steps to house such children in one of the child care institutions and provide adequate funding towards their upkeep and educational expenditure.

Orphaned adolescent girls will be given accommodation in suitable and reputed institutions to "ensure their sensitive care & proper protection. One such institution is Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) residential school", the CM said addressing the media in Guwahati. Also Read - No Space for More Than 2 ICU Beds in Biswanath Civil Hospital: Assam Health Minister.

Also Read: 3rd Wave of COVID-19? Over 9,000 Children Test Positive in Maharashtra

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