Chandigarh, Sept. 10 -- Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Wednesday announced that Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and ASHA Facilitators working in the Health and Family Welfare Department under the National Health Mission (NHM) will now be entitled to six months of maternity leave.

This benefit will be extended under the provisions of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961.

According to a release, Finance Minister Cheema said that this decision aligns with the government's existing policy of providing 180 days of fully paid maternity leave to all its female employees. He clarified that this leave will not be deducted from any other leave accounts.

The Finance Minister also highlighted that the Maternity Benefit Act, 1...