Economic Empowerment of Vulnerable Woman: Concepts of Maintenance and Maternity Benefit Laws in India

The social and economic condition of the society is very essential to measure the human development. The social inequalities and varied economic condition or poor economic conditions would lead people to inhuman living. Therefore, the family as a unit must be supported by each member of the family to uphold the social and economic dignity of each individual. Therefore maintenance of the family members is an essential duty of each member of the family. This article traces the concepts of maintenance by analysing the maintenance laws in India. The concept of maintenance is to keep and protect the dignity of an individual in the family by providing basic financial support. Therefore we have also included how the concept of maternity benefit given to women employees under any establishment serves as a tool to protect the dignity of motherhood and its objects to provide for the full and healthy maintenance of women and their children when she is not working. The maintenance and the maternity benefit accorded to women who are vulnerable to economic depravity in case of separation or loss of a job would empower them with economic stability. This Article will analyse these concepts with relevant legal provisions.