Chennai: The AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu has fulfilled one more election promise by increasing the maternity leave of government employees from six months to nine months.

“In 2011, my government increased the maternity leave from 90 days to six months. Now, the government is increasing the maternity leave from six months to nine months,” chief minister J Jayalalithaa said in the assembly.

Last month, the Rajya Sabha passed an amendment bill that proposes six months’ maternity leave for all working women. The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, which is yet to be passed by the Lok Sabha, will also provide 12 weeks of maternity leave for women who adopt children and women who get babies via surrogate mothers.

Hospital infrastructure

The chief minister announced mega plans involving several millions of rupees for government hospitals across the state.

The government proposes to construct more buildings at Madurai Rajaji Government Hospital, Kilpauk Government Hospital in Chennai and Coimbatore Government Medical College Hospital to set up vascular, cardio thoracic, plastic surgery, kidney, ENT and operation facilities for children.

“Hybrid OT, IVR rooms, post-operative care rooms, imaging and conference halls will be constructed in the above mentioned hospitals at a cost of Rs 356.50 crore. Similarly, in these hospitals equipment like c-arms, x-ray machines and MRI and CT scans will be provided, The Times of India reported.

Training centres with simulators will also be set up in these hospitals. The total cost will be Rs 497.41 crore,” Jayalalithaa said.

The government would upgrade general hospitals in Salem, Vellore, Thanjavur, Tirunelveli, Trichy and Tuticorin. Equipment for mammography, CT scan, imaging, ultrasound and others will be provided in these hospitals at a cost of Rs 75.10 crore.

“Erode, Tirupur, Cuddalore, Dindigul, Pudukottai, Krishnagiri and Periyakulam hospitals will be provided with imaging, CT scan, digital fluoroscopy, endoscopy and haemodialysis units at a cost of Rs 153.60 crore,” she said.

The chief minister also announced plans totalling Rs 131.43 crore to upgrade facilities in several small government hospitals.