Gaya: Magadh University (MU) is planning to extend childcare leave benefits to its women teachers and non-teaching staff across more than two dozen PG departments, 19 constituent colleges and one govt-funded minority college. So far, only women employees of the state govt are eligible for this facility.Childcare leave is different from maternity leave. While women employees are entitled to 26 weeks of paid maternity leave for up to two childbirths, childcare leave can be availed to address other responsibilities such as preparing children for board examinations or caring for specially abled children. State govt women employees are eligible for up to two years of paid childcare leave.MU registrar Binod Kumar Mangalam said the proposal to introduce childcare leave for university employees will be placed before the syndicate in its next meeting. “Once approved, the provision will be integrated with the ‘SAMARTH’ module soon, developed for e-governance and financial administration in state universities,” he said. He added that women employees at Patliputra University are already availing this facility.The registrar also said that, with effect from May 1, the university has introduced an online system for processing various leave applications. These include casual leave, special leave, duty leave, earned leave and medical leave, with approvals now handled digitally by designated officials.On the issue of utilisation certificates, Mangalam said the university has complied with the chancellor’s directive for timely submission to ensure regular release of salaries and development grants. He added that all funds received from the state govt have been duly accounted for and utilisation certificates submitted in the prescribed format.However, the registrar expressed concern over inadequate cooperation from retired employees in updating their personal records. The university currently lacks updated Aadhaar and PAN details for nearly 2,000 of its more than 4,600 pensioners, he said.