Tamil Nadu's third child policy sparks row, Congress opposes CM Vijay's move

UPDATED: Aug 19, 2026 23:13 ISTA political debate has erupted in Tamil Nadu following the Vijay-led TVK government's decision to extend maternity leave to 365 days for government employees having a third child. The policy comes amid concerns over falling fertility rates across southern states, with Tamil Nadu's rate standing at 1.7. Commenting on the move, Tughlaq magazine editor S Gurumurthy emphasised the importance of maintaining demographic balance for economic stability, while evaluating the government's initial performance. Congress MP Karti Chidambaram welcomed maternity leave while expressing reservations about encouraging larger families, advocating instead for paternity leave and right-sizing the population. Read MoreVIDEOS FROM OTHER SECTIONSLATEST VIDEOS