Smriti Irani, the Union Minister for Women and Child Development and BJP leader, has voiced her opposition to ‘paid menstruation leave,’ stating that menstruation is not a “handicap” and does not necessitate a paid leave policy. Responding to a question on menstrual hygiene policy raised by RJD member Manoj Kumar Jha, Irani emphasized that menstruation is a natural part of women’s life journey and should not be treated as a handicap. She dismissed the notion of mandatory paid menstrual leave for all workplaces, asserting that there is no such proposal under consideration by the government.
Last week, in response to Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, Irani informed the Lok Sabha that the government is not considering making paid menstrual leave mandatory. In a written response submitted to the Rajya Sabha, Irani acknowledged that a small proportion of women and girls experience severe dysmenorrhea, but most cases are manageable with medication. She highlighted the societal taboos and silence surrounding menstruation, emphasizing the need to address issues that restrict mobility, freedom, and access to normal activities for menstruating individuals.
Irani disclosed that the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has formulated a draft menstrual hygiene policy in consultation with stakeholders. While mentioning the existing scheme for promoting menstrual hygiene among girls aged 10-19, supported by the National Health Mission, Irani outlined the objectives of the scheme to increase awareness about menstrual hygiene. She also emphasized other initiatives by various ministries to promote menstrual hygiene.
