NEW DELHI: Expecting mothers could get maternity leave for eight months if Union minister Maneka Gandhi has her way. Gandhi—in charge of the ministry of women and child development---has proposed increasing maternity leave from three months to eight months.

"We have mooted a proposal of extending the maternity leave for working women from present three months to eight months to the Cabinet Secretariat for a discussion in the Committee of Secretaries. This matter was taken up by our minister with the Prime Minister and he is also very interested, so we are sending a copy to him," Nutan Guha Biswas, WCD additional secretary said.

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The ministry has also urged the labour ministry that the maternity benefit provisions be extended to all working women both in organized and unorganized sector.

The proposed eight-month maternity leave will include one month leave before expected delivery date and seven months after delivery.

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