Published Paper Details:

Conferring to the law of nature, women in our society, have been granted with the divine blessing of experiencing motherhood. After undergoing the medical procedure of child delivery, both the mother along with her child are entitled to receive postnatal care and nourishment. Going through this vital aspect, various measures have been undertaken and implemented by putting women who have experienced motherhood along with their infant at the forefront at every corner in India. The notion of Maternity Benefit revolves around the concept that women in our society irrespective of their social strata are entitled to receive Maternity Benefit on the account of their nature as women of our society are the cornerstone for a developing nation. The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 has been enacted by the Government of India with the primary goal of carrying forward the obligation which has been cherished through Article 42 of the Constitution of India which provides that "The State shall make provisions for securing just and humane conditions of work and for maternity relief". The said Maternity Benefit Act has proved to be a valuable piece of legislation for women undergoing pregnancy and its primary goal is safeguarding the dignity of women. This piece of legislation provides certain kinds of benefits to especially working women which in turn provides them with aid during their pregnancy period and post-natal care. This research paper is an attempt to highlight the current provisions of the said legislation alongside having a detailed discussion of the how the said legislation plays an pivotal role in upholding gender equality.