The CCL incentive is not all it’s cut out to be, say female employees
Central government employees were over the moon after their salaries were increased as a result of the Sixth Central Pay Commission, and on hearing the announcement that Child Care Leave (CCL) would be granted to female employees.
But when it came to CCL, there was damper: According to an office memorandum, issued by Raj Bala Singh, under secretary to the government of India, CCL can only be availed of if the employee concerned has no Earned Leave (EL) to her credit. The memo states that CCL cannot be demanded as a matter of right, and it should be treated as EL, and hence sanctioned as such.
The decision has come as a major blow to female central government employees. “If this is the case, then the entire exercise of announcing CCL becomes futile as majority of employees would not be able to avail of it,” said a senior central government official.
According to the official, almost all employees tend to save ELs, because if one has amassed 300 ELs, at the time of retirement, the employee can claim six months salary.
“This cannot be accepted, as there would be hardly anyone who could apply for CCL,” said one female official.
The memorandum states that CCL should not disrupt the functioning of central government offices.
a_ashwin@dnaindia.net
