Sat Jan 18 05:31:31 UTC 2025: ## Karnataka Women Teachers Denied Child Care Leave Despite Government Order

**Bengaluru, January 18, 2025** – Women employees in government-aided pre-university colleges and primary schools in Karnataka are facing delays in receiving Child Care Leave (CCL), despite a government order issued in 2021-22 granting the benefit. The issue highlights a significant implementation gap between policy and practice.

While the government sanctioned 730 days of CCL for women with children with disabilities and 180 days for others, the Department of School Education and Literacy (DSEL) has been slow to implement the policy. Although an order was issued in November 2024 for aided primary schools, it remains unimplemented. Aided PU college staff haven’t even seen initial steps towards implementation.

M.P. Karabasappa, president of the Karnataka State Aided Schools and Colleges Federation, criticized the DSEL for failing to create and issue the necessary circulars for implementing CCL, despite an order from the Principal Secretary in November 2024. He also highlighted that while aided high schools received CCL approval in January 2024, aided primary and PU colleges have not.

A teacher from Tumakuru district shared her personal struggle, explaining her inability to secure leave to care for her seriously ill child, despite the government’s stated intention to provide this support. She cited teacher shortages at her institution as a further barrier.

In response, Ritesh Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary of DSEL, confirmed that the order granting CCL to aided primary school staff has been issued and should be implemented. He further stated that the department would investigate the situation concerning aided PU colleges and take appropriate action. The ongoing delays, however, continue to negatively impact women educators across the state.

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