Odisha: On 78th Independence Day, Odisha government announced a one-day menstrual holiday for women. This was announced by Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravathi Parida during the district level Independence Day celebrations held in Cuttack.
Women employees working in state government and private sector are also given one day leave with pay. With immediate effect, the Odisha government has announced that women can take the first or second day off during their menstrual periods for the health and well-being of women.
With this, Odisha becomes the third state to provide menstrual holiday for women. At present menstruation holiday is provided in Bihar and Kerala. Since 1992 Bihar has been implementing 2 days leave with pay every month. Last year, in 2023, Kerala extended menstrual leave to all universities and institutions in Kerala and maternity leave to 60 days for female students above 18 years of age.
Meanwhile, some private companies in India like Zomato have also adopted menstrual leave policies, and from 2020 Zomato offers 10 days of paid period leave per year.
Although the Women’s Right to Menstrual Leave and Free Access to Menstrual Health Products Bill, 2022 proposes 3 days of paid leave for women and transwomen during menstruation, the bill has not yet been enacted. Attempts were made to enact the Menstrual Benefit Bill 2017, Sexual and Reproductive Bill 2018 and Menstrual Rights Bill but these too were not implemented.
