Kathmandu, Jan. 11 -- A proposal to grant six months' maternity leave to working mothers, prepared by the Ministry of Health and Population as part of broader public health reforms, was destroyed during the September Gen Z protests. Now officials say they have to draft the proposal all over again.

The ministry had prepared a proposal to replace the Mother's Milk Substitutes (Control of Sale and Distribution) Act-1992, which also includes a proposal to grant six months' leave to new mothers.

The proposal had been forwarded to the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs for its suggestions. The ministry has returned the proposal with suggestions.

"The document was ready to be sent to the Council of Ministers, but was destroyed...