Why You Should Take a Cruise to Dubai and India

July 1, 2009

Taking a cruise to Dubai from India — Image – Pixabay

India is one of the most remarkable, mysterious, and magical countries in the world. Vast, steeped in history and bursting with art and culture, it is also boasts some of the most dynamic, vibrant and metropolitan cities and regions you will find anywhere. The cultural traditions, extraordinarily diverse cuisine, and stunning landscapes and natural wonders make India a must-visit destination for any adventurous global traveler.

Dubai represents almost the polar opposite to India as a travel destination. Although people have lived on the Arabian peninsula for hundreds, even thousands of years, Dubai’s history really only goes back as fair as the 18th century, when it was established as a fishing village. Modern Dubai only came into being with the discovery of oil in the 1970s. Despite its relative youth, Dubai is a fascinating place to visit, constantly expanding, changing and driving forward, and with some of the finest restaurants, most cutting edge museums and galleries, and most beautiful modern architecture to be found anywhere in the world.

Combining these two different yet equally attractive destinations in one trip can make for an extraordinary and once-in-a-lifetime holiday. Taking a cruise to Dubai from India, and vice versa, are therefore an excellent choice, an opportunity to take in two contrasting cultures, and have two very different experiences. A cruise is, in reality, one of the best ways to see India all on its own, as the country is so vast, so diverse and so full of remarkable experiences that trying to take it all in any other way can be extremely challenging.

As well as being able to take in some of the best tourist experiences in the world in to one amazing trip, a cruise combining Dubai and India has a bunch of great advantages. For starters, you only need to unpack once! Sort yourself out in your cabin, pack light for day trips or even the odd overnight trek, and explore everywhere you end up with total freedom.

A Dubai/India cruise gives you the chance to see such an incredible, diverse and beautiful range of sights, attractions and remote places. What other sort of holiday would give you the chance to go from dining with Michelin-starred chefs and sand-dune surfing in 4x4s, to exploring the mouth-watering cuisine of Gujarat, taking in the remarkable diversity and excitement of ancient and modern Mumbai, exploring the fascinating colonial heritage of Pune, and relaxing on some of the best beaches in the world in Goa.

Finally, one of the best things about cruising down the Persian Gulf and around the Arabian Sea is that the journey is almost as impressive as the destination. With sunsets over the horizon, beautiful shorelines and distant, mysterious mountains shrouded in mist, just getting where you are going on a cruise is half the fun.

A cruise to Dubai and India offers an incredible, all-in-one experience that you won’t forget in a hurry. Combining luxury, comfort and elegance with incredible adventure, eye-catching natural wonders and unbelievable culture and traditions, it will be a genuinely once in a lifetime trip.

What Should I Consider Before Buying A Hot Tub?

Caleidoscope

June 9, 2009

When you’re buying a hot tub, you need to make sure that you choose the right one for your needs and your lifestyle. There are quite a few differences in benefits, choices, quality, and features between the different manufacturers, so knowing what to look for will help you choose the right hot tub for you.

What to Look For

There are three most important features to take into consideration when buying a hot tub.

Massage Jets

One of the most common reasons for buying a hot tub is to help relieve back pain and joint pain. Another common reason is to help cope with insomnia. The hot tub massage jets play an important part in treating these and other health issues. Each model has different shapes and styles of jets. They’ll also have many different pressure settings, and programs. You should look for a model that allows you to custom choose the massage and wellness program to target the area you need focused on.

Design and Comfort

The comfort of the design should be an important factor in your decision. You should sit in the different models and ask the hot tub dealer for a wet test. They can fill the tub with water, which will give you a truer idea of what the hot will feel like at home. Look for other features as well, such as ergonomic seating, or multi-level seating. A hot tub is an investment, and one you should be able to use for many years, so you need to be sure it’s suitable and comfortable for you, and any other bathers.

Cleaning

Hot tubs do need maintenance and cleaning, but different models have different requirements. You need to know those requirements before you make a decision on which model is right for you. If you don’t want to spend much time cleaning the hot tub, you might want to think about getting one that has a self-cleaning function. This means that it will filter, and skim the water, and vacuum the floor of the tub.

What to Avoid

As well as features and functions to look for in a hot tub, there are also some things you should avoid.

Basic Warranty

Many low-quality models tend to have a limited, or basic warranty, which can cause a problem if any of the parts fail. You should look for a model that comes with a comprehensive warranty, with support for parts and labor for 3 years, covers the acrylic surface for 5 years, and the structure for 10 years.

Poor Customer Support from The Dealer

Always make sure to research the dealer as well as the hot tub models. Read reviews on the dealer, and the manufacturers they carry. You should ask the dealer how long they’ve been in business, what support and service they offer for your location, and if they stock parts for the makes and models they carry.

Poor Insulation

Some hot tub models only have insulation on the exterior of the tub. These types of hot tubs need more electricity to heat the water and will cost more to run. Look for models that are energy efficient, have thermal vents and shields, high-flow/low-flow energy pumps, and hardcovers for heat retention. Ask the dealer about the average monthly run costs of the models you’re considering.

About the Author

Scott Bland has been in the leisure industry for nearly 20 years. As a sales manager in the leisure industry he knows hot tubs inside and out. Right now, he works sales while writing about hot tubs, pools and spas on his blog, www.scottbland.ca

Protecting Your Home and the Items In It

Caleidoscope

June 8, 2009

Moving into your own home is an exciting time for everyone. Having your own space with all the comforts that make a home a home is something that cannot be duplicated. Having air condition, a furnace, a range, a dishwasher, and a refrigerator is a must for home buyers. Most homes come with all these conveniences to help keep your family happy and healthy. If one of these conveniences break, repairs or replacements could be expensive and take time. Home insurance covers all the important aspects of the home from things like fire and theft, but it usually does not cover these important comforts that make you want to spend time at home. Therefore, it is important to have a home warranty. A TotalProtect Home Warranty covers the items that insurance does not and helps to make sure your home stays the place you want to be.

Homes Come in Many Sizes

Home is a place to enjoy and socialize with the people who are closest to you. In some parts of the world, it is a tradition for large families to live together. For example, in some cultures of India, it is still customary for families to marry and move into the family home. Some of these homes are large homes with many rooms to accommodate everyone and other homes are built more like townhouses sitting next to each other but still have common areas for socialization. This gives the family a chance to cook together and share family meals that allow children to grow up as n integrated member of something larger and important. It instills family values and always leaves you with the feeling that there is someone you can turn to in a difficult to time.

If something goes wrong in big family households it can make life hard for many. If the range goes out, it will hinder the ability of the family to eat. Eating out for a large family can be expensive and difficult to plan. Also, air conditioning is a major issue for any family in warm weather. Lack of air conditioning can become a health problem for the elderly or chronically ill. These are some prime example of when a home warranty would be useful.

In contrast, a small family or single family may not have as many mouths to feed or as much laundry to do but in today’s society, time and money is a factor when anything goes wrong in your home. Many people work more than one job just to pay for the necessities. So, if something breaks down, inconveniences like going out to eat or to the laundromat can be overwhelming. This makes buying the right home and providing the right protection a must.

Warranties and Other Ways to Protect Your Home

Buying and comparing the level of warranty coverage you need is just one of many ways that you can protect your home from unexpected extra costs and inconveniences. Here are five other ways that you can make sure your appliances and mechanical equipment stays in good condition and lessen the chance of needing repairing or replaced.

Check the filters on your indoor air unit. Heat pump systems need the filters to change at least one time per month. If this is not completed, it can affect the performance of the unit and the other components of the unit.
Clean your dryer vent and lint holder. If the dryer vent gets clogged, not only will it affect the dryer’s ability to work properly but it can be a fire hazard. Make sure this is completed regularly and that you clean the inner lent catcher after every use.
Clean your refrigerator coils and check your door seals. The coils will collect dust and debris that can cause your appliance to wear out quicker or cause other problems. Door seals are important for correct temperature management in your refrigerator.
Unclog and clean the drain in your dishwasher routinely to keep it working in peak condition. You may want to clean other inside parts too.
Cleaning your range with the safe self-cleaning option will help to regulate the temperature in your range so that it keeps working properly.

3 Tips to Find the Best Chinese Food Recipe Apps

Caleidoscope

June 4, 2009

There are few things better than sitting down to a dinner that you have cooked yourself. Especially if it is a dinner that features lots of noodles, rice and maybe a roast duck or two. Chinese recipes are a great way to add a little variety, spice, and flavor to your traditional weeknight dinners. Trying to find tasty Chinese recipes can be difficult, but luckily, we live in the 21st century, and there are 1000s of great Chinese cooking apps. By following these three tips you can quickly find the recipes that work best for you and spend more time cooking that wonderful dinner!

Use Ingredients Already in Your Pantry

The great thing about Chinese food is that it can be as minimalist or as fancy as you want to make it. A great way to get started cooking Chinese food is to find an app that allows you to use ingredients already in your pantry. These apps are a great way to avoid a trip to the grocery store after a long day and help prevent wasted money and food by using leftover ingredients to create a fantastic mouth-watering dish. These apps are great for beginner Chinese food chiefs as well. By using ingredients already in your pantry, you can work with ingredients that you are already comfortable cooking: just adding a few different spices!

Find Your Favorite Dishes

Trying to recreate that fantastic dish you order from a Chinese food delivery app? Some amazing cooking apps let you search by meal or even a restaurant to help you imitate that amazing stir fry you had a few weeks ago. A proper search function is essential for a Chinese recipe app, as it will save you a bunch of time scrolling through hundreds and hundreds of options. Although, sometimes when you are unsure what to cook for dinner being able to scroll through recipes is a nice feature, especially during a monotonous day at work. The best recipe apps should offer you a discover category that will show you new recipes based on recipes you have cooked and liked previously!

Top 10 Chinese Cooking Apps

While doing some research for this article, I came across a great list of Chinese recipe apps. This list offers a great place to start your search for the perfect app. It features a few apps that provide a great place to start and some more advanced apps that have some great features but may cost a little bit of money.

Cook like a Pro

Now that you have had some experience cooking Chinese food, there is no need to search for Chinese food near me on google maps! Once you feel confident cooking some simple Chinese dishes it’s time to expand your dinner quiver. Adding a few more show-stopping plates to your home-cooked menu is a great way to impress friends and family! Whether you are cooking for family, friends, or maybe a special night for you and yourself, finding a cooking app that offers instructional videos is essential for mastering the more complicated cooking techniques. The best apps to bring your cooking to the next level will provide recipes that vary in difficulty from beginner to master and provide instructions and guidance with each step along the way.

Conclusion

Keep these three tips in mind as you search for the perfect Chinese recipe apps, and you’ll find a great app that fits your personal needs in no time. Remember to start simple and then build-up to the more complicated dishes, and you’ll be impressing friends and family at dinner in no time at all.

Two Most Demanded Certifications in Cybersecurity Your Should Get

Caleidoscope

May 5, 2009

Cybersecurity is a multi-level approach that requires a holistic and comprehensive strategy of defending the security parameters of an organisation. Many organisations all over the world are making it one of their top priorities to strengthen their cybersecurity posture by increasing spending in this department. This tells us why cybersecurity is simultaneously becoming a deeply desired career path for many students and professionals, be it college graduates, tech enthusiasts, or career switchers. In 2020, as cyber crimes have hit the digital world with a force stronger than ever before, owing to the changes created by the coronavirus pandemic, cybersecurity has also become a hot debate and an area in urgent need of focus among organisations, technical scholars, government bodies and the general business world. There is no denying the fact that the main issue regarding the lack of cybersecurity measures in the face of rampant cyber crime is the dearth of skilled and certified professionals who can guard our omnipresent digital world against malicious attacks. Unfilled cybersecurity job roles will reach a staggering three and a half million worldwide by next year. Talking about cybersecurity education, this article will discuss two of the most widely recognised certifications in the field, CHFI and CEH online courses.

CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)

Short for Certified Ethical Hacker certification, CEH has made its mark in the entire world as the ultimate ethical hacking certification. Providing deep technical training to professionally and lawfully hack an organisation using the latest and most advanced tools, techniques, and methodologies, CEH has become an industry standard all across the globe in the branch of vulnerability testing and penetration testing. The certification training provides professionals and students with a deep insight into a hacker’s mind and trains them to correctly guess the security posture of an organisation and fix the vulnerabilities in it by hacking into it using either zero or full information (or even partial information in many cases) about it. This year has made CEH a common name in cybersecurity circles as many surveys have shown that it is one of the top ten Information Technology certifications in 2020. Needless to say, the benefits possessed by this program are attracting not only students but other IT professionals as well.

CHFI (Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator)

The second most recognised certification, also provided by the same educational body as CEH, EC-Council, caters to the forensic branch of cybersecurity. CHFI, short for Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator, is a certificate course that trains students and professionals to correctly carry out a forensic investigation in case of a cyber incident on an organisation. The CHFI course has become a popular career option for many interested students since the demand for computer forensic experts has gone up in recent years, due to unchecked cyber crime. There is a hacker attack every 39 seconds and every organisation, big or small, public or private, irrespective of the industry it falls in, is subjected to harmful motivations of hackers.

Apart from these two, there is another elite and prestigious certification training program that deserves due attention from cybersecurity enthusiasts- CPENT. Short for Certified Penetration Testing Professional, this certification stands at the highest level of the VAPT track, ensuring candidates a revered and envious status as an elite penetration tester all over the world. Clearly, those who are interested in cybersecurity will not find a better time and opportunity to pursue these certifications, especially considering the fact that even netizens, in today’s world, are not hesitating to spend on privacy and security as safety becomes one of their topmost priorities while they enjoy the fruits of technology.

Gift Ideas For Family And Friends Overseas

Caleidoscope

May 5, 2009

Sending gifts to your overseas friends and family should not be a task to worry about in 2021. Since we live in an advanced world which is more connected than ever. But yet we still have to pay a steep amount of money on small packages for sending them to long distance places. Even just for those times when you want to let them know that you are thinking about them and miss them. Also you are limited with your choices as you can’t send them handmade perishable goods too.

This task of sending gifts to your family and friends who are residing overseas requires a lot of pre planning and yes, no last gifts are allowed. No one wants their gift to arrive late as this shrinks the level of excitement to unwrap a gift. So this year, whether it be a birthday or that wedding you unfortunately can’t attend. Then you must be thankful as there are great ideas that you can use for those beloved who are far away from you. And here are a few of the best gift ideas that we have curated for you. Let’s take a look.

Delightful Cake

When you think you have to send something special on your beloved’s birthday, the first thing that comes in our minds are deletable cakes. But these are not the practical gift items to send them through post and it will cost double of the amount to send though. So why not search for the sites that provide worldwide shipment of cakes? There are many online portals that allow you to make birthday cake delivery to your loved one’s doorstep. They deal in everything from cakes to basket hampers. So if you are looking to treat your friends with delights then there are no limits for you now.

Buy Them An Experience

If you are constantly worrying about the high shipment cost that levy on sending something heavy, then why not treat them with a gift in the form of a voucher or gift card? You can hunt around for the adventures they live nearbuy, that you know will definitely excite them. Then you can book and make a payment and just send them the further confirmation. Or they can also get you a printable voucher and personalise for them according to their preferences. The voucher gift can be anything from amusement park tickets to live concert tickets.

Homesick Package

We know your friends and family are far away right now and you want to send something to cheer them up. So why not give them something that connects them with their home feeling. What about assembling a package of favourite items from home? Such as accessories from their favourite outlet or candies from their favourite sweet shop. These gift items do take some thought and planning but your close ones will see the hard work you have put behind it.

Photo Frame

Well, the digital camera has made it easier to capture each and every moment but still holding a physical picture is something that creates the memories alive. So what are you waiting for? Frame some of your favorite photos with them and hold a special place in their hearts. If you want to get really fancy then you can also customize it with their name or a heartfelt message. They will think of you every time they will see the frame.

Gift Of Their Choice

If your family and friends are notoriously difficult to buy for thm simply send them ecard gifts from online selling stores. In this way, they will spend the money on things they actually want and everyone knows it will be well appreciated. All you need to do is choose a regular shop from where they shop their essentials and you are good to go.

With these amazing gift ideas you can treat your overseas family and through the portals of online cake delivery, it’s all easy to cheer them up.

How to Tackle Muscle Pain Naturally

Caleidoscope

May 4, 2009

Playing your favourite sport after what seems like an eternity is a great feeling. But what about the muscle pain that lingers in your body after that hard-hitting game you played? Now, it seems like you made a mistake by going overboard with the game.

The whole week is ahead of you and your body is already giving the signs that you went too far with the limitations of your muscles which are not accustomed to such vigorous activity anymore. However, regrets won’t take you anywhere. The best step is to learn how to tackle such muscle pain and that too naturally.

If you are not aware of some natural ways, we are more than happy to help you. Here are some ways that can make your pain vanish naturally. Take a look!

The Nature’s Antidote

Not many of us turn to our nature’s gift to alleviate our health issues even though it is known for having a cure for almost all the problems. Be it your back pain, neck pain or the strain in your waist, natural painkillers can treat them all. Moreover, natural remedies do not have side effects the way allopathic medicines have on your body. Therefore, turning to the nature’s antidote is the best way.

Some of the common herbs and spices that tackle pain easily are willow bark, turmeric and cloves. You can also check the ayurvedic medicine list from websites like 1mg.com and choose the one that is suitable for your pain.

Tackle with Acupuncture

This one is quite an interesting technique to get rid of muscle pain. An ancient Chinese medical practice, acupuncture works on the body by establishing a balance of the flow of energy in the body.

An acupuncturist places tiny needles in the body to relive the pain. It is believed that acupuncture causes the body to release serotonin, a chemical that relives pain while making you feel good. So, head to a good acupuncturist and get the perks of this amazing technique.

Manage with Massage

A very simple yet effective way, massaging can help ease stiffness and soreness in muscles. Not only this but massaging also improves the blood circulation in your body, reduces muscle tightness and relaxes the body.

There are various massage oils available in the chemist near you. If chemist is not there, you can always go to the online platforms where you can get the oils from the section where ayurvedic medicine list is readily available.

Heat and Ice

You definitely know about this one and don’t believe much in the power of this method. Well, you will know it now. Both ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ packs are applied according to the pain. For instance, if you have suffered from a strained muscle and swelling has begun, you can apply ice pack on the affected area immediately and notice the relief in some while.

Now, hot pack is mostly applied in the cases of muscle stiffness due to sprains and strains. People also use hot packs for joint pains. You can consult a pharmacist or doctor to know how to utilise this method for an effective result.

Done reading? Well then next time you experience muscle pain, do not forget to try them. However, you must always remember the limits of your body. If it gives you signal that something is not good, listen to it and act accordingly. Give yourself some time before jumping into the vigorous activities on a sudden note.

You can also enhance your body’s immunity and boost its power by taking some ayurvedic tonics and be ready for the next game.

Celebrate Your Love Life with Delicious Cakes and Beautiful Flowers

Caleidoscope

April 7, 2009

Making every occasion special and memorable is not an easy task but not impossible. It’s up to you that how well you can plan your event and let me clear you this that you for making any celebrations memorable and unique you don’t always need a planner. Planners will only be required in planning the weddings, big events like any show or any like this.

Whether it is a birthday party, anniversary party, success party, midnight celebration, baby shower celebration or any other occasion to enjoy with. All these days holds a great memory in your life because in some way these celebrations are the reason for your strong bond. The celebration is the time when you can give yourself enough time to relax and spend time with your family and friends and also for knowing each other well.

And if the occasion is for celebrating your love life then the party is must for that. So, organize a party and invite all your close ones, relatives and friends to join you and make the moment more special. Decorate the house with beautiful flowers, it could be any type of flowers like red roses, carnations of a different color, gerberas of different color and lilies as there are a huge variety of flowers to choose from. You can decorate the room with the vase flowers or by the flowers in the pot. As flowers will increase the show off your house and will fill your house with a great aroma.

Order the best cake for both of you, select the cake which is loved by both of you. Red velvet cake is perfect for you as this cake is made with red color with velvety texture and red is the color of love and affection. It is not necessary to choose this cake only you can choose any kind of cake for your occasions. To surprise your husband/wife you can gift them a customized cake and a bouquet of flowers which can be of the type of flowers and of colors.

This will be a great surprise for them and trust me, cakes and flowers are the deadliest combos ever, these two signifies the sweetness of cakes and freshness of flowers which will put a smile on their face and that’s what you want. You can arrange a good food buffet for your customers to satisfy them because this is very important to make your comfortable and happy.

Celebrating your love life is very important for making your bond even more stronger and by this you will be able to collect great unforgettable memories. Not just this but will help in knowing each other in a more better way. By celebrations, you will only get attached more to each other and be it an anniversary, your first date or your days of your relationships. Every moment is to be celebrated in a different way. It is also good for understanding each other’s choices and preferences in all the aspects.

Importance of Anti-CCP Antibody Test? How it is done?

Caleidoscope

April 1, 2009

Wondering what is anti ccp antibody? It stands for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody which is the protein secreted as a result of joint inflammation from rheumatoid arthritis. By analyzing the presence of this antibody in the blood, it may be found that the person is suffering from RA or not. This test is the most specific way of diagnosing Rheumatoid arthritis. In more than 98% of the cases, an elevated level of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody in the blood suggests Rheumatoid arthritis. Indeed, the test is the reliable way to confirm RA. In the year 1998, it was found that patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis or joint inflammation produce antibodies to citrulline.

The utility of the test

The test is vital and helps in the diagnosis of joint diseases, mostly Rheumatoid arthritis. Anti CCP blood test scores much above typical rheumatoid factor test to detect rheumatoid arthritis. You may not know that this antibody has prognostic significance in the realm of RA. If the level of antibody is much higher in the blood, it shows aggressive rheumatoid arthritis. People who show up higher level of antibody are more at a risk of joint ailments and finally joint damage. It is interesting to note that this antibody may be found in elevated levels in the blood years before RA has developed. This antibody plays a pathogenic role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis.

However, it is important to note that negative anti-CCP does not suggest that there is no joint disease. It does not completely rule out the chance of RA. It is however positive in almost 50% of the relatives of patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.

What preparation is required for the test?

If you are asked to undergo the test for anti-CCP, not much preparation will be required. You just have to talk to your doctor regarding the medicines you are using already or if you suffer from any medical condition. As per the health condition you already suffer from, the doctor gives the instructions.

Can the test be done in the home?

The lab test for CCP antibody may be done at your home. It is all due to the advancement in medical science and technology that you may take the bun test also in the home. The test is conducted to confirm the joint condition called Rheumatoid Arthritis. It detects antibodies called citrulline in the blood. If the test report is positive, the doctor can ask you to take other tests to confirm it. There may be physical examinations, imaging tests and other blood tests prescribed to you. The normal range of CCP should be below 20u/ml. If this level exceeds, it suggests Rheumatoid Arthritis. Even if you are likely to get RA, you must undergo the test. At times, genetic factors can also lead to RA.

The blood sample will be collected by the lab professional right from your home. This offers great comfort and convenience.

The test is affordable

Anti -cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody test is economical and is priced affordably. The cost is not fixed however. It differs from lab to lab. It may be that your healthcare provider bunches other tests along with it. Thus, the cost of taking this test varies.

BCG vaccine or Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine is administered against tuberculosis. Lab tests, vaccinations can now be facilitated in the home.

Reference links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti%E2%80%93citrullinated_protein_antibody

How Maternity Benefit Amendment Bill 2016 can prove useful for women?

Caleidoscope

March 7, 2009

Working as a software engineer in a private company, Meera is expecting her first child. Though, the motherhood brings immense happiness, the high inflation rate is making her anxious. Moreover, how will she manage her office and baby without affecting any one of them?

Any working sector or organisation in the current world requires the equal contribution of both men and women. Gone are the days of male-dominant society wherein women were only given a role to play in matters of the household and related fields. In today’s world, men and women have equated themselves in terms of business, work, or in other words, professional life. With all this being changed, there comes a time for women when concentrating on their professional life proves to be a challenge and they need to take maternity leaves, considering their physical and mental stress at the time of pregnancy.

To cater to this section of the workforce “The Maternity Benefit Act 1961” was introduced to protect the employment of women during the time of pregnancy wherein they were entitled to a paid leave of 12 weeks. In mid-2016 “The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2016” was introduced, which aimed at providing better environment and facility for women during and after pregnancy.

Key Amendments under the newly introduced bill –

Raising the duration of maternity leave for women from 12 weeks to 26 weeks. However, there are some restrictions like a woman with more than 2 children is liable to get only 12 weeks’ maternity leave. There was already a provision for maternity leave of 26 weeks in the government sector; but the private sector granted only a 12-week leave. Now this act is applicable to all the establishments, including private and government.

With every establishment of 50 or more employees, the crèche facility shall also be given. It refers to a day care centre that is set up within the office premises. A community crèche can be made by combining the resources of two or more organisations within a 500 metres distance which a woman would be allowed to visit four times a day.

If the nature of the work allows, then the employer can allow a woman to work from home as such. This option can be availed after the period of maternity leave is over, which is mutually decided by the employer and the woman.

Every establishment where women are working and where this act is applicable, it is compulsory for the employer to inform women about the maternity benefits available during the time of her appointment.

This bill proposes to cover “Commissioning Mother and Adoptive Mother”. As per the bill, 12 weeks of leave has been introduced. The said leave is to be calculated from the date the child is handed over to the adoptive mother or to the commissioning mother as per the case.

The Maternity Bill is aimed at benefitting around 1.9 million women in the organised sector and also increasing the strength of working women force. But now the question arises – how many women currently are receiving the benefits under this Act?

Studies show that approximately 95% of the working women of India are employed in the unorganised sector. This act, therefore, does not address the grievances and requirements of these women as it focuses on women employed in the organised sector only. Also, this act completely ignores the importance of paternity leave. According to studies, women, whose husbands have been equal participants during this time, are in a much better mental state and physical health and are thus able to resume their work with maximum ease.

During the maternity leave, owing to the medical bills piling up because of hospital check-ups and medications, the family of a pregnant lady goes through extreme financial stress which cannot be taken care of by the act alone. Here arises the importance of taking a comprehensive health insurance offering maternity insurance to aid the family financially during this time.

Most insurance policies do not cover maternity insurance, as pregnancy is anticipated. However, many companies now offer health coverage along with maternity insurance, which can be obtained as an add-on by paying extra premium. The maternity cover includes a sum of approximately Rs 15,000 to Rs. 50,000 for a sum insured of Rs 3 to 5 lakhs. The waiting time before a woman can claim insurance varies among different companies, usually between 2 and 6 years, but can also be as low as 9 months. Therefore, if your family planning is a few years away, you should go with an individual health insurance policy that covers maternity as well. In addition to maternity expenses, it includes child care expenses as well.

Motherhood is a beautiful phase in every woman’s life. Moreover, after giving birth, a woman’s body requires some time to heal and proper care and planning will play a crucial role in this. So, if you belong to working class, approach your employer to get a complete detail on the pregnancy bill. Along with this, go for a comprehensive health insurance policy which will ensure the complete peace of mind.

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