Govt: No Leave for Parent Care, Use Existing Options

In response to a parliamentary question raised in the Rajya Sabha, the Government of India has clarified that there is no specific provision for Central Government employees to avail leave exclusively for the care of their elderly parents. The question was posed by Smt. Sumitra Balmik, who inquired whether such a provision exists and, if not, whether the Ministry would consider introducing a sick care leave policy similar to the existing child care leave.

Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and the Prime Minister’s Office, provided the response. He stated that under the Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972, employees are entitled to various types of leave, including 30 days of Earned Leave, 20 days of Half Pay Leave, 8 days of Casual Leave, and 2 days of Restricted Holiday per year, in addition to other eligible leaves. These can be utilized for personal reasons, including caring for elderly parents.

The Minister’s response indicates that while no dedicated leave category exists for elderly parent care, the current leave framework is flexible enough to accommodate such needs. The question of introducing a specific sick care leave policy akin to child care leave was not directly addressed, suggesting that no immediate plans are in place for such a provision.

This clarification comes amid growing discussions on the need for policies to support employees balancing professional responsibilities with caregiving duties for aging family members.

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