Lok Sabha Question No. 1999 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-02
Subject: Menstrual Leave
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Sudhakar Singh, Shri Giridhari Yadav, Dr. D Ravi Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION NO. 1999

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.08.2024

## MENSTRUAL LEAVE

## 1999. SHRI GIRIDHARI YADAV: SHRI SUDHAKAR SINGH: Dr. D RAVI KUMAR:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  re-considering  the  implementation  of  period  leaves  for women employees in both public and private sectors across the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof including the proposed guidelines and the expected timeline for implementation;
- (c) whether the Government is planning any awareness programs or initiatives to educate employers and employees about menstrual health and hygiene and the importance of period leaves;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether the Government taken note of the observations made by the Supreme Court in May, 2023 urging the Government to prepare a model policy on menstrual leave for women employees in consultation with States and other parties so that their productivity is not affected; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI ANNPURNA DEVI)

(a) & (b):   At present, there is no proposal under consideration of the Government to make provision for paid menstrual leave mandatory for all workplaces.

(c)  &  (d):  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, 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, Department 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.

(e)  &  (f):    The  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development  has  received  an  order  dated 08.07.2024 of Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in the matter of Writ Petition (W.P.) No. 327 of 2024.

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