Union Minister of Education Subhas Sarkar stated in a written reply in Lok Sabha that the Education Ministry is not considering legislation for menstruation leaves in educational institutions across India.
“No such proposal is under consideration in the ministry,” Sarkar stated in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on providing menstrual leaves.
Sarkar says UGC, and AICTE already introduced policies.
Sarkar mentioned that the University Grants Commission (UGC) has developed “Guidelines for Basic facilities and amenities for a safe, secure environment for Women and Women Cell (for sensitization, policy implementation, monitoring, and grievance redressal) in HEIs,” which aims to provide students with easy access to hygiene facilities.
“The HEIs should ensure easy access to basic sanitation and hygiene facilities for women such as clean, well maintained and fully functioning separate restrooms equipped with 24-hour tap water supply, soap, covered dustbins, sanitary pad disposal bins and vending machines in all its buildings. There should be proper sanitary staff deployed to keep the facilities clean and usable at all times,” stated Sarkar referring to the UGC policy.
Sarkar also stated that the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) issued an advisory to the institute’s approved institutions on promoting adolescent girls’ menstrual health by ensuring the availability of quality sanitary napkins through sanitary napkin vending machines and ensuring safe and environmentally friendly disposal of a used sanitary napkin through sanitary napkin incinerators.
Kerala initiates policy on menstrual leaves
The written response follows the Kerala government’s announcement that menstrual leaves would be granted to female students at state-funded institutions under the Department of Higher Education.
Jitendra Awhad, a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA and former Maharashtra Minister, has also asked the state government to provide menstrual leave to female students and employees.
“I request @mieknathshinde and @Dev_Fadnavis that the Kerala government has taken a decision to give leave during menstruation. This is a very commendable matter. Maharashtra government should also take a similar decision for the students, women government employees of our state,” Awhad said in a tweet.
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