BMC employees with disabled child to get 730 special leaves

Employees of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will be entitled to 730 days of special leaves to look after their disabled child. The move comes in to benefit Central and State government staff. The proposal was submitted to the BMC for its final approval after receiving a nod from the standing committee in October.

The Bombay High court, around two years ago, had directed the state coordination committee under the Disability Act, to advise the government on the formulation of a policy with regard to Child Care Leave (CCL). The verdict was given over the petition of a lower court staffer whose eight-year-old daughter had cerebral palsy. Eventually, the state and now, even the BMC is ready to grant leaves to women employees, who have children with special needs. Widowed male employees can also seek benefits of the scheme.

Civic employees was allowed to take long-term leaves for reasons related to education, sickness, maternity, child adoption, and so on. However, a provision of CCL was not made available to them until now.

BMC staff, who have children with blindness, low vision, leprosy — cured, hearing impairment, loco motor disability, mental hearing impairment, mental retardation, autism, cerebral palsy, multiple disabilities can avail the benefits of CCL.

An employee can take as many as 730 days in his or her entire service of up to 22 years, if he or she has a disabled child. CCL does not involve any age restriction as long as the case is about 40 per cent disability. The scheme is admissible for up to two children.