Gorakhpur: Despite various claims by the Uttar Pradesh government of empowering women by rolling out schemes like Mission Shakti, the state Transport Department still does not have the facility of child care leave (CCL).
In the absence of the CCL facility, a female ticket conductor with the Gorakhpur roadway is forced to bring her five-month-old baby to duty, carrying her on the bus from Gorakhpur to Padrauna as she tickets the passengers.
This, despite the Supreme Court's clear orders regarding maternity leaves.
Shipra Dixit has been working on the post of ticket conductor since 2016 after getting the job from the deceased dependent quota.
She availed the maternity leave of six months from July 25, 2020, and gave birth to a baby girl on August 21, 2020.
On January 19, 2021, when she returned to the job, she requested the top officials to attach her to the office, but the Transport Department officials rejected.
In the fear that she may lose her job if she asks for more, Shipra joined the work with her baby daughter.
Shipra says her request to be attached to the office was rejected and also alleged that the officials allow workers less experienced than her to work at the desk job, indicating discrimination. Accusing officials of insensitivity she said that the authorities asked her to report on duty at whatever cost.
Also read: Paid Maternity Leave Linked To Long-Term Health Benefits
MSc topper Shipra said that she is being punished for being 'qualified', earlier too the higher officials use to harass her by cutting her salary, showing her absent and so on. She is also not being promoted, despite having all the qualification.
Shipra said she herself could not understand why she was posted as a ticket conductor but had to join under compulsion.
Responding to the matter, KK Tiwari, Assistant Regional Manager, Uttar Pradesh Transport Corporation, Gorakhpur said the nature of the job is like that.
He said Shipra was given maternity leave and since there is no CCL facility the department cannot help her.
"Seeing her problems, we would forward her request of transfer to the office which would require the permission of higher officials," Tiwari added.
