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The Odisha government on Thursday introduced a one-day menstrual leave policy for women employees working in both the state government and the private sector. This announcement was made by Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida during the district-level Independence Day celebrations in Cuttack.
Effective immediately, the policy allows women employees to take leave on either the first or second day of their menstrual cycle, aiming to better support women's health and well-being.
This move aligns with the broader conversation around menstrual leave policies in India. While the Right of Women to Menstrual Leave and Free Access to Menstrual Health Products Bill, 2022, proposes three days of paid leave for women and transwomen during menstruation, the bill has yet to be enacted.
The Supreme Court recently urged the central government to develop a model policy on menstrual leave for female employees, highlighting that this issue falls under the purview of policy-making rather than judicial intervention.
Currently, Bihar and Kerala are the only Indian states with implemented menstrual leave policies. Bihar introduced its policy in 1992, allowing women two days of paid menstrual leave each month. In 2023, Kerala extended menstrual leave to female students in all universities and institutions, along with up to 60 days of maternity leave for female students over 18.
Some private companies in India, such as Zomato, have also adopted menstrual leave policies, with Zomato offering 10 days of paid period leave annually since 2020.
Despite these measures, there is no national law governing menstrual leave in India. Previous attempts to pass related bills, such as the Menstruation Benefits Bill, 2017, and the Women’s Sexual, Reproductive, and Menstrual Rights Bill, 2018, have not been successful. However, Odisha's recent policy marks a significant step forward in recognizing and addressing the needs of women in the workplace.
