Political Parties React to Tamil Nadu's New Maternity Policy for Third Child

Tamil Nadu’s recent order to provide a full 365‑day maternity leave for the third child of government staff has stirred varied responses among regional political leaders.

The directive, unveiled by the ruling party, eliminates the previously reduced leave entitlement for third pregnancies. Under the new rule, all female employees in the state’s civil services will enjoy the same year‑long paid leave irrespective of the number of children they have.

M. Kodandarama, head of the Telangana Jan Sabha, hailed the change as a historic step that prioritises women’s health over population‑control agendas. Speaking in Hyderabad, he emphasized that earlier policies discouraged larger families, whereas the current amendment signals a shift toward welfare‑first thinking.

Shiv Sena’s spokesperson Shaina N.C. welcomed the moral responsibility taken by the Tamil Nadu government but warned that the motivations behind the policy will likely be scrutinised. She affirmed the party’s support for improved maternity safeguards while calling for transparency.

On the opposition side, DMK representative T.K.S. Elangovan reiterated that the state’s original two‑child policy was intended to manage demographic growth. He argued that the new leave provision could dilute those efforts, even as the party claims it does not intend to abandon population‑control measures.

The debate highlights a broader tension between social welfare enhancements and longstanding family‑planning strategies. Stakeholders suggest that the state must pair generous maternity benefits with comprehensive awareness campaigns to maintain a balanced demographic outlook.

The government is expected to issue detailed implementation guidelines within the next week, ensuring that all departments adopt the new leave structure uniformly.