Congress leader Shashi Tharoor recently advocated for policy changes regarding maternity leave, arguing that current structures fail to support the health of mothers and infants. Tharoor emphasized that breastfeeding rates are negatively impacted when women are forced to return to their jobs prematurely.

According to Tharoor, the primary issue lies within India's unorganized sector, where an estimated 16 crore women are employed. Because these workers often lack formal employment benefits, many are compelled to resume work within weeks of giving birth to maintain their family's economic stability. Tharoor suggests that providing paid maternity leave would alleviate this financial burden, allowing mothers the necessary time to recover and prioritize infant nutrition.

While the proposal focuses on public health and labor rights, the report from NDTV notes the scale of the unorganized workforce as a significant barrier to implementing such benefits. The discourse highlights a tension between the immediate economic necessity for low-income families and the long-term health benefits of extended maternity leave. No counter-arguments or government responses were provided in the initial reporting regarding the feasibility or funding of such a mandate.