India

NCW Chairperson Urges Shared Parenting and Stronger Support for Working Mothers

By PTI

Vijaya Rahatkar, chairperson of the National Commission for Women, said that motherhood should not force women to sacrifice their careers. In an interview with PTI, she emphasized that raising a child is a shared responsibility of both parents and called for an environment that allows women to balance professional goals with motherhood. "When a child comes into the home, the responsibility of that child belongs to everyone. It lies with the mother as well as the father. It is the equal responsibility of both," Rahatkar said. She highlighted the importance of childcare leave, noting that the government is providing it and that private companies are making significant efforts to extend it. Rahatkar added that women should be able to pursue careers, fulfill dreams and achieve aspirations without compromising on motherhood. "If both together raise the children and if we proceed with the other recommendations we made for mothers, then those women will manage their households well, care for the child well, and won't have to take a gap in their career. They will continue their careers," she said. She also noted that organisations that provide childcare facilities and support working mothers benefit from their contributions. Last month, the NCW submitted 37 recommendations to the Union government to strengthen maternity and childcare protection, including extending gender‑neutral childcare leave to private‑sector employees, introducing mandatory paid paternity leave across sectors and creating 5 lakh creche seats by 2030. The recommendations were made after extensive consultations with stakeholders and were submitted to the Department of Personnel and Training, the Ministry of Women and Child Development and the Ministry of Labour and Employment, covering nine key areas such as maternity benefits, childcare leave, paternity leave, childcare infrastructure, nursing and lactation support, private‑sector coverage and workplace discrimination. Rahatkar expressed confidence that the recommendations would be accepted, stating that the government’s perspective is not only about advancing women but also about achieving national development through women’s leadership. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.