Pinarayi Vijayan's BIG Move In Technical Education, ITI Students To Get Menstrual Leaves

Last year, the Kerala Higher Education Department introduced menstrual leave for female students in all state universities under its jurisdiction.

In another key decision, the state government declared that all Saturdays will be holidays for ITI students.

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Kerala government announced on Thursday that female students in Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) will be granted two days of menstrual leave each month. The decision, unveiled by General Education Minister V Sivankutty, acknowledged the physically demanding nature of skill-training programs where female students have excelled in both traditional and labour-intensive trades.

"In today’s era, women are active in every field, including some of the most physically demanding skill-training trades. Taking these factors into account, the government has decided to grant two days of menstrual leave each month for female trainees in ITIs," Minister Sivankutty said, as per a report on PTI, in a statement.

This initiative will benefit female students across more than 100 ITIs in the state, providing flexibility and support during their training. Officials are currently ascertaining the exact number of students who will benefit from this policy.

This is not Kerala's first initiative to support women in education. Early last year, the Kerala Higher Education Department introduced menstrual leave for female students in all state universities under its jurisdiction.

Saturday Holidays Announced For ITI Students

In another key decision, the state government declared that all Saturdays will be holidays for ITI students. To balance the training schedule, the shifts will be adjusted—morning shifts will run from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and afternoon shifts from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

While Saturdays will now be holidays, students will have the option to utilize these days for shop-floor training, short-term courses, or extracurricular activities, according to the government, as per the report.

Meanwhile, countries like Japan and South Korea offer menstrual leaves to women. These reforms mark a significant step in enhancing the well-being of women while ensuring that their work remain flexible and inclusive.