Union Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani has opposed the idea of paid period leaves for women employees saying that menstruation or menstrual cycle is a natural part of a woman's life and it's not a handicap, as she was reponding to MP Manoj Kumar Jha's question in Rajya Sabha on measures taken by the government to ensure emoloyers grant paid mentrual leaves to women.
She said, "As a menstruating woman, I can say menstruation and our menstrual cycle is not a handicap, it's a natural part of a woman's life journey. Given that women today are opting for more and more economic opportunities, we should not propose issues where women are in someway are denied an equal opportunity just because somebody who does not mentruate has a viewpoint on menstruation."
However, Irani informed the House that the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has prepared a draft policy on menstrual hygiene in consultation with stakeholders. She said the the Centre already implements a scheme to raise awareness of menstrual hygiene for girls in the age group of 10-19 years.
Irani further informed the house the the Central scheme was backed by the National Health Mission through the State Programme Implementation Plan route, based on the proposals sent by the states or Union Territories. She added that one of the prime aims of the scheme was to promote awaress on menstrual hygiene.
Informing the House about the draft policy on menstrual hygiene, she also elaborated on the other initiatives taken by the various ministries for the promotion of the same cause.
She said under the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao component of Mission Shakti -- an umbrella scheme for safety, security and empowerment of women implemented by the her ministry -- a key focus has been to promote and awareness about menstrual hygiene.