Nagpur, July 3 (PTI) The Maharashtra government today decided to provide a total of 180 days' paid leave to women government employees to look after the children in the course of service.

They will be able take this leave until their children turn 18.

The same leave can be availed of by a male employee too if his wife is dead and if he has children who are under 18.

The decision was taken in today's cabinet meeting, said finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar.

Among other things, women employees would find this facility helpful when their children are in class 10th or 12th, said an official.

Women (or male, as the case may be) employees will be able to demand this leave thrice a year.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)