Over a dozen universities now have a menstrual leave policy. What does it promise?

NEW DELHI: On February 25, National Law Institute University (NLIU) Bhopal rolled out a menstrual leave policy for students enrolled in its academic programmes. It was only the latest university and the fourth NLU to have one. The first was the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) which instituted such a policy in January 2023.

Over the past year, several others have allowed menstrual leave for students. Inspired by CUSAT, Kerala’s higher education minister R Bindu introduced the menstrual leave policy across all state universities. Later, Gauhati University and Tezpur University in Assam; National Law University and Judicial Academy, Guwahati, Assam; Dharmashastra National Law University, Jabalpur; National Academy of Legal Studies and Research, Hyderabad, also implemented it last year.

While this may suggest that institutions have adopted this rapidly, at most campuses, the fight is still on, with north Indian institutions behind the rest. After National Students Union of India’s (NSUI) candidate, Jatinder Singh, won the student council elections in Panjab University, Chandigarh, in September, the first policy he pushed for was menstrual leave. “Just after I was elected, we had many meetings with the administration to roll out a menstrual leave policy on campus. If this gets implemented, we will be the first university in North India to have an inclusive menstrual leave policy for all,” said Jatinder Singh.

“For two long years, I have advocated and campaigned on menstrual leave policy across India, I am glad to see it implemented now. But still there is a long way to go,” said Ranjeeta Priyadarshini, an activist working in the area of menstrual leave for workplaces. Her online petition is demanding a “no-questions-asked, paid monthly period leave for all women workers” across India.

Similarly, a law student, Mansi Vyas, pursuing BA-LLB at University of Rajasthan, has also petitioned the vice-chancellor “to provide two days of paid-discretionary menstrual leaves per month to the women, girls, and all the people who menstruate in the university from the session 2024-25”.

Also read Menstrual leave for girl students to be extended to all state universities in Kerala: R Bindu

Menstrual leaves: Long campaign

Vyas started advocating for a menstrual leave policy in 2023. “I started with a Google survey to know whether the policy is needed… 68.85% of the women of the University of Rajasthan, the faculty, the administration, and the labourers, take a day off while menstruating. This came as a huge number to me. Despite advocating for it both offline and online, discussion with the VC, state women’s commission, letters to the chief minister, many sensitisation sessions in the university, the implementation has yet not happened. I hope seeing others, University of Rajasthan will also implement it soon,” she said.

Priyadarshini said: “Often the discussion around menstruation leave policy is shoved away saying that it’s natural. Many universities and workplaces often term it as a sick leave and not a menstruation problem. But still we celebrate Menstruation Hygiene Day every year. But when it comes to implementation, nothing happens. Many women lose out on classes and pay cuts and still we are asked to hide the issues on menstruation in our society. Why?”Priyadarshini added, “When we can have bagless days in schools to ensure children don’t have to bring in heavy school bags, why can’t we have menstrual leaves? If girl students are given menstrual leave, some extra classes can be given.”

Also read Dharmashastra National Law University announces menstrual leaves for female students

Panjab University

Singh had made the issue of menstrual leave a part of his manifesto while contesting the Panjab University students’ union elections. Upon winning, he held meetings with the university administration, including the VC. “A committee and a sub-committee have been formulated for its implementation,” he said. The committee is looking into the final norms. Singh had also conducted a survey where 89% of women from the university had demanded such a policy.

The university also lacks in providing care services for girl students. “Our departments have no facilities, not even a convenience room, for women students. This policy could be a landmark shift,” he added.

The implementation will include filling of a form every month end or semester end with at least two leaves in a month or five to six days off per semester can be availed by girl students, Singh added. He and the students are trying to ensure that this policy comes into force before the end of March.

At Tezpur University, the policy allows relaxation of mandatory attendance in each course. Earlier it was 75% mandatory attendance in every course; now, it may be relaxed to 73%. Namami Sharma, assistant professor of Tezpur University, said, “There is no specific number of leaves. For two credit courses, we have 30 classes and three credit courses, we have 45 classes in a semester. For each course, you need to have 75% attendance. With this policy and notification for girl students, it has been 73% since the autumn semester of last year. This 2% is the relaxation for menstrual leave.”

Countering stigma

Even the process of availing leave can lead to stigma. “We want to ensure the process is smooth, where no medical certificate is needed and no stigma is attached,” added Singh.

Sharma added, “In our days, talking about menstruation was taboo, even in the classroom. In social work departments, the discussions happen differently because students work on menstrual hygiene. But other departments are very silent about it.” This policy has brought the topic to open discussion. Menstruation is talked about now, which is good,” she said.

Darshana Hazarika, an activist from Assam who is working with schools to counter the treatment of menstruation as a taboo subject, said: “In Assam region, talking about menstruation issues and discomfort is taboo. Young girls reel over in pain and discomfort but in hushed silence.”