Lok Sabha Question No. 2256 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-29
Subject: Provisions for Menstrual Leave
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: D. Ravikumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION NO. 2256

TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.07.2022

## PROVISIONS FOR MENSTRUAL LEAVE

## 2256.     SHRI RAVIKUMAR D.:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is implementing the provisions provided in the Menstruation Benefit Bill, 2018 such as menstrual leaves;
- (b) if  so,  the  number  of  States/UTs  which  are  implementing  these  provisions  and  if  not, reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government has checked the implementation of these policies in private offices and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  access  to  sanitary  napkins  and  medicines  is  being  provided  to  the  women employees at the public offices and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, whether the Government is planning to initiate such provisions to provide better rest facilities for women and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) to (e) The Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972 applicable to the Central Government servants do not have provisions for menstrual leave and presently there is no proposal under examination to include such leave in these rules. However, various types of leave are available to a female Government employee under these Rules in the form of Earned Leave, Half Pay Leave, Extra Ordinary Leave, Child Care Leave, Commuted Leave, Maternity Leave, Leave on Medical Certificate, Leave Not due, etc.

The  Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare  implements  the  Scheme  for  Promotion  of Menstrual  Hygene among adolescent girls in the age group of 10-19 years since 2011. The scheme is supported by the National Health Mission through State Programme Implementation Plan (PIP) route based on the proposals received from the States / UTs.The major objectives of the scheme are (i) to increase awareness among adolescent girls on menstrual hygiene; (ii) to increase  access  to  and  use  of  high  quality  sanitary  napkins  by  adolescent  girls,  and  (iii)  to ensure safe disposal of sanitary napkins in an environment friendly manner. Under the scheme, a  pack  of  sanitary  napkins  are  provided  to  adolescent  girls  by  the  Accredited  Social  Health Activist (ASHA) at subsidized rate of Rs. 6 per pack.  In addition, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation  under  Swachh  Bharat  Abhiyan  has  developed  National  Guidelines  on  Menstrual Hygiene  Management  (MHM)  for  creating  awareness  on  Menstrual  Hygiene  Management (MHM)  in  rural  areas  as  part  of  its  overall  interventions  related  to  behaviour  change  on sanitation hygiene aspect.

Further, to ensure access to sanitary napkins and good quality medicines at affordable price, Department of Pharmaceuticals under Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers implements the Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janausadhi Pariyojna (PMBJP), an important step in ensuring the health security for women. Under the project, over 8700 Janaushidhi Kendras have been set up across the country that provides Oxo-biodegradable sanitary napkins named Suvidha at Rs. 1/per pad only.

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