Tamil Nadu Offers 1-Year Maternity Leave for Women Police

Chennai, Aug 23: In a significant move to support women in law enforcement, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin announced that women police officers will now be entitled to one year of maternity leave. Upon their return, they will have the option to be posted at a location of their choice, either near their husband or parents, for a three-year period. This initiative aims to help them balance their professional responsibilities with childcare, reflecting the government's commitment to women's welfare. The announcement was made during a ceremony at Rajarathinam Stadium, where the Chief Minister distributed various medals to meritorious police officials. Stalin highlighted that this policy change was in response to requests from personnel within the police department, indicating a proactive approach to addressing the needs of women officers. In addition to maternity leave, the Chief Minister emphasized the importance of enhancing the professional skills of women police to effectively combat crimes against women and children, as well as cyber crimes. He urged the officers to approach their duties with dedication, focusing not only on crime reduction but also on crime prevention, underscoring the critical role they play in maintaining public safety. Stalin expressed his vision for Tamil Nadu to become a state free from drugs and crime, encouraging law enforcement to take decisive action against offenders. He also noted the state's progress in various sectors, attributing this success to the effective maintenance of law and order.