Adv. Sandigdha Mishra "Be Aware"

Maternity Rights: Transforming Indian Schools into Equitable Workplaces India stands at a crossroads in its pursuit of gender equality, with significant strides made in women’s rights yet persistent gaps that demand urgent attention. One such gap lies within the K12 education sector, where female teachers—vital contributors to shaping the nation’s future—often face the unjust denial of maternity benefits. Despite the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, amended in 2017 to provide 26 weeks of paid leave, many schools, especially private and smaller institutions, flout these legal obligations. This failure forces female educators into an impossible dilemma: choosing between their professional commitments and their fundamental right to motherhood. The stakes are high. Female teachers, who constitute a substantial portion of India’s teaching workforce, encounter discrimination, job loss, and emotional strain when pregnant. This not only violates their rights but also weakens the education system b...