No Plans To Mandate Paid Menstrual Leave For Workplaces: Govt

Minister Annapurna Devi noted that the government runs the ‘Scheme for Promotion of Menstrual Hygiene’ to raise awareness about menstrual hygiene, which targets adolescent girls aged 10-19

The Ministry of Women and Child Development informed the Lok Sabha on Friday that the government is not currently considering making paid menstrual leave mandatory for both public and private sectors. Minister Annapurna Devi noted that the government runs the ‘Scheme for Promotion of Menstrual Hygiene’ to raise awareness about menstrual hygiene, which targets adolescent girls aged 10-19.

This initiative, supported by the National Health Mission, operates through the state Programme Implementation Plan (PIP) based on proposals submitted by various States and Union Territories. Under this scheme, sanitary napkins are distributed to adolescent girls by Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) at subsidised rates.

In December of the previous year, then Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani rejected the idea of menstruation being considered a "handicap" and dismissed the need for a specific policy on "paid leave" for menstruating women. In response to concerns raised by Rajya Sabha members, Irani said that menstruation is a natural process and cautioned against proposals that could potentially limit women's equal opportunities. This stance came amid a parliamentary inquiry into the country's menstrual hygiene policy.

Irani asserted, "As a menstruating woman, menstruation and the menstruation cycle is not a handicap; it’s a natural part of a woman’s life journey. We should not propose issues where women are denied equal opportunities just because somebody who does not menstruate has a particular viewpoint towards menstruation."

"Educational Institutions and workplaces to promote inclusivity, recognise the diverse needs of the workforce and foster an environment that supports the well-being and productivity of all individuals. Provisions like flexible working arrangements, such as work from home or support leave, to accommodate the specific needs of individuals during menstruation. It is important to emphasise that such arrangements should be available to all to prevent perpetuating stigmas or assumptions about productivity based on menstrual cycles," she had said in a draft upper house.