Dharamshala: Himachal Pradesh will demand sanction of maternity leave under the Centre`s flagship NREGA programme, the state Assembly was informed on Saturday.
Rural Development and Panchayati Raj minister Jairam Thakur said in reply to a question that the state government will write to the Centre in this regard.
He said women were coming forward in large number to participate in the rural job guarantee programme.
While percentage of women under NREGA in 2008-09 was 39 percent, it rose to 46 percent in 2009-10 in Himachal Pradesh, he said.
Considering problems faced by pregnant women while on work, the state government would consider deputing a woman to look after children of less than six years of age of more than five pregnant women and setting up of "Balbari" centres.
Thakur said on the pattern of Rajasthan, HP would also explore the possibility of putting a woman mate on duty for supervision of work by women under NREGA scheme.
Presently, ward members and local government officials like junior engineers supervise work under NREGA.
HP Assembly adjourns sine die
The Himachal Pradesh Assembly was on Saturday adjourned sine die after a six-day winter session.
The session, which was to have concluded on Monday, was held at the newly constructed Vidhan Sabha bhawan at "Tapovan" here.
PTI
