<div>Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Thursday increased the maternity leave of women employees with the state government to nine months with immediate effect.<div><br /></div><div>The leave was increased from three to six months during the previous AIADMK disposition. “Likewise, this government has increased it to nine months,” the chief minister told the state Assembly.</div><div><br /></div><div>The leave is by far the longest period offered as the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill initiated in Rajya Sabha proposes only six months for all working women. </div><div><br /></div><div>The government also announced that it would upgrade all state-run hospitals with enhanced facilities such as vascular, cardio thoracic, plastic surgery, kidney, ENT and high-tech surgery equipment for children at a cost of Rs 500 crore. </div></div>
<div>Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Thursday increased the maternity leave of women employees with the state government to nine months with immediate effect.<div><br /></div><div>The leave was increased from three to six months during the previous AIADMK disposition. “Likewise, this government has increased it to nine months,” the chief minister told the state Assembly.</div><div><br /></div><div>The leave is by far the longest period offered as the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill initiated in Rajya Sabha proposes only six months for all working women. </div><div><br /></div><div>The government also announced that it would upgrade all state-run hospitals with enhanced facilities such as vascular, cardio thoracic, plastic surgery, kidney, ENT and high-tech surgery equipment for children at a cost of Rs 500 crore. </div></div>