42 Days Leave: Big news for central government employees. Now government makes a big announcement. Central government employees can take up to 42 days of special casual leave for organ donation, as announced by the government in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Union Minister of State for Personnel, Jitendra Singh, shared this information in a written response to an inquiry.
As per the directive issued by the Ministry of Personnel in 2023, this leave is granted based on the recommendation of a registered medical practitioner or doctor involved in the organ removal procedure. The minister noted that employees can typically use this special leave starting from the day they are hospitalized. Additionally, if necessary, they may take up to one week of leave prior to the surgery, provided it is recommended by a registered physician.
Key Benefits Available to Government Employees
Healthcare Services: Government employees and their families can access affordable medical treatment, medications, and hospitalization through the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS). These benefits continue even after retirement.
Leave Policies: Female employees are entitled to six months of maternity leave, while male employees receive 15 days of paternity leave. There is also an option for extended medical leave in cases of serious illness or accidents.
Retirement Benefits: Upon retirement, government employees are eligible for a pension, gratuity, and a Provident Fund (PF). The New Pension Scheme (NPS) involves a monthly deduction from salaries, which accumulates to provide a pension after retirement.
Housing and Travel Perks: Employees benefit from travel concessions for air or rail journeys every four years under the Leave Travel Concession (LTC). They can also choose between government housing or receive House Rent Allowance (HRA).
Educational Support: Scholarships and education allowances are available for employees’ children, and these children receive priority for admission into Kendriya Vidyalayas.
Additional Leave and Festival Loans: In addition to national and gazetted holidays, government employees enjoy several special holidays. They can also access interest-free loans during festival seasons.
A new pension scheme will be introduced for government employees starting April 1, 2025. Under this scheme, employees with 25 years of service will receive a pension equal to 50% of their basic salary from the last 12 months of employment before retirement. Those who leave after 10 years will receive a monthly pension of 10,000 rupees. Approximately 2.3 million employees are expected to benefit from this initiative.