IRCTC staff to get maternity benefits

New Delhi: After several protests by employees as well as the women and child development ministry, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Service (IRCTC) has finally agreed to provide child care benefits to its women employees in line with in line with the ministry of railways and the Central government. Despite being a public sector undertaking under the ministry of railways, the IRCTC has not been giving full maternity benefits to its women employees.

In a letter to railway minister Suresh Prabhu, women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi said: “I understand that IRCTC, which is a PSU of the ministry of railways, does not have the same rules regarding grant of child care leave for women employees as is available for women employees in the railway ministry”.

“You would appreciate that since IRCTC confirms to government policies, it would be appropriate for the IRCTC to maintain uniformity in all statutory provisions related to welfare of women employees,” added the letter, a copy of which is available with this newspaper. Following the minister’s letter and several protests by the employees, the railways has decided to provide the child care facilities to IRCTC employees.

In a notification, the railways has said: “Central public sector enterprises should formulate its own rules with the approval of their respective boards for providing facilities to women employees in line with the facilities available to Central government employees. Accordingly, action has been initiated by IRCTC to implement child care leaves to women employees.