“Caregiving isn’t just for mothers”: Raghav Chadha pushes for paternity leave law

Raghav Chadha on Monday called for making paternity leave a legal right in India, raising the issue in the Rajya Sabha during the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament. Emphasising shared parental responsibility, he argued that caregiving after childbirth should not fall solely on mothers and urged lawmakers to recognise the role of fathers in early childcare.

Highlighting the current policy gap, Chadha pointed out that while Central Government employees are entitled to 15 days of paid paternity leave within six months of childbirth or adoption, there is no such legal mandate in the private sector. Instead, paternity leave in private companies remains a contractual benefit, leading to wide variations and leaving a majority of working fathers without guaranteed support.

Making a strong case for reform, he said, “A father should not have to choose between caregiving for his newborn and keeping his job,” adding that mothers should not be forced to undergo childbirth and recovery without their partner’s presence. He stressed that caregiving is a shared responsibility and that laws must reflect evolving social realities.

Chadha also drew comparisons with global practices, noting that countries such as Sweden, Iceland and Japan provide extended and legally guaranteed paternity or parental leave, ranging from 90 days to nearly a year. He underlined that with nearly 90% of India’s workforce employed in the private sector, the absence of a legal framework disproportionately affects most families.

The demand has reignited debate around the need for a comprehensive parental leave policy in India. With no existing legislation governing paternity leave across sectors, the issue continues to depend on employer discretion, even as calls grow for a more inclusive and equitable approach to caregiving rights.