The Odisha government announced a significant policy change on Tuesday, granting an additional 10 days of casual leave annually to women employees working across various departments. This move increases their total casual leave entitlement to 25 days from the existing 15 days.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s office formally announced the decision, acknowledging the domestic responsibilities and challenges faced by women in government service. This initiative builds on Odisha’s legacy of progressive gender policies, having been the first state in India to introduce a 33 per cent reservation for women in government jobs during the 1990s.
This announcement comes alongside recent measures to improve leave allowances for other employee groups. The state government previously extended 15 days of casual leave to employees in non-government-aided educational institutions. Additionally, women block grant employees were granted 180 days of paid maternity leave for up to two live births.
These policy changes demonstrate the Odisha government’s commitment to supporting its workforce and fostering a more inclusive work environment, particularly for women juggling professional and personal commitments.
