The Kerala government recently announced a new policy granting flexibility in working hours for its employees who have kids with medical conditions such as autism, cerebral palsy, and other similar disabilities or mental retardation.According to the order, government employees who are parents of children with 40 per cent or more of these disabilities will be allowed a maximum of 16 hours of relaxation in their total monthly working hours. This additional concession is aimed at supporting these employees in caring for their special-needs children. Good, but is this enoughHowever, parents of such children have expressed the need for further measures to ensure effective caregiving while being employed. They believe that more steps should be taken by the government, especially in terms of accommodating parents who are located far away from their children or work in the private sector. The initiative by the Kerala government is seen as a positive step, but there is still room for improvement and consideration of various aspects associated with the care of kids with special needs.
