AAP MP Raghav Chadha has demanded a law to make paid paternity leave a legal right in India, emphasising shared caregiving responsibilities.Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, he argued that fathers should not choose between jobs and family, calling it a necessary reform to support both mother and child during childbirth.The AAP MP argued that caregiving responsibilities after childbirth should not fall solely on mothers.”When a child is born, both parents are congratulated, but the responsibility of caregiving falls disproportionately on the mother,” Chadha said, emphasising the need for a more balanced approach.He stressed that the presence of a husband is crucial for a woman immediately after childbirth, not only for emotional support but also for shared caregiving.Earlier this month, a bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan, observed that while a mother’s role in a child’s development was undeniable, the father’s role was equally important and could not be ignored. The court noted that parenting was a shared responsibility and that fathers should have the opportunity to actively participate in a child’s early development.At present, India does not have a specific law mandating paternity leave in the private sector. While maternity leave is governed under the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, paternity leave remains out of the purview of labour legislation.Paternity leave as a legal right exists in many countries, but the length, pay and eligibility vary widely. Broadly, it is most established across Europe, parts of Latin America and Asia.“In countries like Sweden, Iceland and Japan, this legal right is provided between 90 days to 52 weeks as guaranteed right. In India, 90 per cent work force is in private sector. That means most of the fathers don’t have this right,” Chadha said.