Lok Sabha Question No. 921 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-08
Subject: Menstrual Leave
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shashi Tharoor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 921 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2023

## MENSTRUAL LEAVE

921.   DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has considered to make provision for paid menstrual leave mandatory for all workplaces;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the time by which it would come into force;
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  a  PIL  filed  in  the  Supreme  Court  in January, 2023 which states that menstrual pain affects employees' productivity and is akin to heart attack pain and if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (e) whether the Government would consider to amend the Central Civil Service (Leave) Rules, 1972 for including the paid menstrual leave; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (f): Menstruation is a physiological phenomenon among women and only a small  proportion  of  women/  girls  suffer  from  severe  dysmenorrhea  or  similar complaints; and most of these cases are manageable by medication.

At present, there is no proposal under consideration of the Government to make provision for paid menstrual leave mandatory for all workplaces.  However, various types of leave are available to a female Government employee under Central  Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972 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.

Further, the Government implements the Scheme for Promotion of Menstrual Hygiene among adolescent girls in the age group of  10-19 years. The Scheme is supported by National Health Mission through State Programme Implementation Plan (PIP) route based on the proposals received from the States/UTs. One of the major objectives  of  the  scheme  is to  increase  awareness  among  adolescent  girls  on Menstrual Hygiene. Under the scheme a pack of sanitary napkins packs are provided to adolescent girls by the Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) at subsidized rates. Government also provides budget to the States/ UTs for Orientation of field level health workers and IEC activities for menstrual hygiene.

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  10000  Janaushidhi  Kendras  have  been  set  up  across  the country,  which  besides  affordable  medicines,  provide  Oxo-biodegradable  sanitary napkins named Suvidha at Rs. 1/- per pad only.

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