Taking note of several reports which indicated a decrease in the recruitment of women workers owing to an increase in maternity leaves, the government has decided to pay 50 per cent of the salary of 14 weeks to women on maternity leave. Earlier, under the Maternity Benefit Act, women were given paid leave for 12 …

The rough terrain, the snow-capped peaks, the winding roads and monasteries — the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir is the abode of nature’s raw and untouched beauty. The region might be a haven for adventure travellers, but all is not well for the local residents. The high altitude, exposure to excessive ultraviolet (UV) rays, lack of oxygen and the …

A 65 per cent shortfall in subsidies is affecting Maharashtra’s push to ensure a toilet in every urban household under the Swachh Bharat Mission, the nationwide cleanliness campaign, according to a study by CEPT University, Gujarat. The cost of building a basic toilet with water and a septic tank in Maharashtra is estimated to be around Rs 35,000. Under the …