About the Menstrual Leave Policy:
#GS II #Governance
Topic – Government Policies and Interventions:
∙Context:
∙The Supreme Court ruled on February 24 that although being a biological occurrence, menstrual pain may still serve as a “disincentive” for companies to hire women.
∙How does the maternity leave procedure work?
∙In order to take the tests, students normally need to have a minimum of 75% attendance each semester. Now, the state will provide female students an additional 2% discount.
∙This demonstrates that female students are qualified to take their exams if they maintain a 73% attendance rate.
∙Why is this action so important?
∙This project has been lauded as the first “feminist choice for university-college students” in the country.
∙Period breaks would increase diversity and tolerance in the workplace and in the school.
∙The number of working women would increase as a result, and girls would be encouraged to pursue higher education.
∙Have similar actions since taken place?
∙Period leave was made available to working women in Bihar in 1992.
∙The Health Ministry’s Menstrual Hygiene Scheme, which debuted in 2011, aimed to increase the number of sanitary napkins available to rural girls.
∙The Menstruation Benefits Bill was initially introduced by the Arunachal Pradesh Legislature in 2017.
In 2022, it was raised once more. The matter was deemed “unsuitable” for discussion in the “holy” institution, thus the bill was abandoned.
∙What worries exist?
∙This is a kind move, yet it begs the question of why menstruation is considered taboo in India.
The term “leave” might easily be employed in this situation to excuse discrimination.
∙For instance, there are regulations allowing for time off in nations like Japan and South Korea.
Yet, polls show that the number of women using it is decreasing because to worries about social stigma.
∙The possible medicalization of a typical biological process is another issue. Also, this might make existing gender biases worse.
∙Because of concerns about the productivity and financial implications of missed periods, employers may be less willing to hire women.
∙How do we approach it?
∙This menstrual break is a good choice even if it only applies to women and excludes other people
who menstruate. It has encouraged a more deliberative conversation on a delicate subject.
∙Menstruation hygiene must remain a topic of discussion given the level of stigma that currently surrounds it. The government has a variety of challenges to solve before gender justice and
equality can be attained, this being one of them.
∙The length of leave must now be considered going forward while determining internal marks, according to students in Kerala. A student receives two marks in addition to internal points for participating in class. Students that have between 75 and 85% attendance are granted this.
∙The government would be wise to include transgender youngsters in the benefit.
∙A significant step towards satisfying the demands of so many people would be to extend the benefits of paid time off to working women.
∙Conclusion:
∙The most recent Kerala decision is a step in the right direction towards justice and gender equality. Nonetheless, a controversial problem still needs to be resolved. It would be ideal to
allow everyone who menstruates access to the benefits.