Paid leave for menstruation? Women and Child Development minister Smriti Irani says this

The Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smriti Irani, addressed the issue of menstrual leave during a session in the Rajya Sabha. In response to a question, she stated that menstruation is a natural part of a woman's life and should not be considered a handicap. Irani expressed her personal view on the matter, highlighting that women today are pursuing more economic opportunities and that specific policies for granting paid leave may not be necessary.

During the question hour on Wednesday, Irani responded to a supplementary question from RJD member Manoj Kumar Jha. She emphasized the importance of not denying women equal opportunities based on the viewpoints of those who do not menstruate. Jha mentioned that Bihar was the first state to provide menstrual leave in the early 1990s, followed by Kerala. He then asked the Union minister about measures being taken to ensure employers grant a certain number of paid menstrual leave to female employees.

In a previous session in the Lok Sabha, Irani had clarified that there is no current proposal to make paid menstrual leave mandatory for all workplaces. This response was given to a question from Congress member Shashi Tharoor.


In a written response to Jha's questions regarding menstrual hygiene measures and the possibility of a policy being implemented, Irani informed the Rajya Sabha that menstruation is a natural physiological process for all menstruators. She acknowledged that a small proportion of women/girls experience severe dysmenorrhea or similar complaints, but most cases can be managed with medication.

Irani expressed the need to address the silence surrounding menstruation and create an environment conducive to menstrual hygiene for all menstruating individuals. She also emphasized the importance of educating and sensitizing men and boys on this issue. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has collaborated with stakeholders to formulate a draft menstrual hygiene policy.