Chennai: Congress MP Karti P Chidambaram has questioned the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to extend one-year paid maternity leave to women government employees having a third child.

While welcoming maternity leave, Chidambaram said the government should also consider paternity leave. However, he questioned whether extending the benefit to a third child could encourage larger families.

“While maternity leave is most welcome, paternity leave should also be considered. But government should not be encouraging a third child in families. Do families have the resources to support a third child?” he said.

The Tamil Nadu government announced the extension, allowing women state government employees to avail themselves of 365 days of paid maternity leave for their third child.

Previously, women employees with two or more surviving children were entitled to 12 weeks, or 84 days, of maternity leave with full pay for a subsequent pregnancy.

The revised provision brings the maternity leave entitlement for the first three children to the same level. A detailed Government Order specifying the provisions and implementation of the policy is expected to be issued shortly.

The decision comes against the backdrop of Tamil Nadu’s changing demographics. The state’s Total Fertility Rate has fallen below 1.4, significantly lower than the replacement-level fertility rate of 2.1, while nearly 16% of its population is aged 60 and above.