National Commission for Women (NCW) on May 26 has sought a feedback from Guwahati-based TV channel for an incident of ‘sacking’ a pregnant journalist a few weeks ago. In a statement, NCW condemned the incident saying it is deeply perturbed by the violation of provisions of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961.
“The NCW condemns the insensitive attitude of the channel towards its pregnant employee. The commission, being deeply perturbed by the violation of provisions of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, has asked Prag News to send a feedback on the incident at the earliest,” said the statement.
Of all the rights of women, one of the rights is motherhood; however, a recent incident from Assam exposes the double-standards of organizations towards its pregnant employees. The National Commission for Women has come across a media report on May 22 titled “Indian Journalists Union criticises Prag News for sacking pregnant journalist”, wherein it was reported that a pregnant senior journalist was “forced to resign” from the organization, the statement further read.
Quoting media reports, the NCW said that the woman’s pregnancy restricted her “agility” and Prag News required only “agile persons” as reporters in its organization. “The Guwahati-based channel blatantly refused salary to the woman journalist and asked her to put down her papers,” it said.
