“Mensuration Not Handicap”: Smriti Irani Opposes Paid Leave
Union women and child development (WCD) minister Smriti Irani on Wednesday said that mensuration is not a handicap and thus doesn’t warrant a specific policy for ‘paid leave’.
She expressed her opinion while answering to a question asked by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) member in the Rajya Sabha on the mensural hygiene of the country. The minister stated that the mensural cycle is not a handicap and it’s a natural part of women’s life journey. “We should not propose issues where women are denied equal opportunities just because somebody who does not menstruate has a particular viewpoint towards menstruation,” she said.
Last week, while responding to Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, Irani said that the government is not planning to implement any schemes which will provide paid leave for menstrual women. In a written response submitted in the upper house on Wednesday, Irani stated that “a small proportion of women/ girls suffer from severe dysmenorrhea or similar complaints; and most of these cases are manageable by medication”.
The minister also addressed the issues of mensuration and its associated activities, noting the silence, shame and social taboos which often restricts the mobility, freedom, and access to normal activities. She also pointed out the harassment and social exclusion suffered by the individuals in the society and emphasised the sensitivity of the issue of an individual who faces their mensural cycle for the first time.
In October, the government released a draft Mensural Hygiene Policy advocating leave provision in the workplaces for women mensurating. “Educational Institutions and workplaces to promote inclusivity, recognize the diverse needs of the workforce and foster an environment that supports the well-being and productivity of all individuals. Provisions like flexible working arrangements, such as work from home or support leave, to accommodate the specific needs of individuals during menstruation. It is important to emphasize that such arrangements should be available to all, to prevent perpetuating stigmas or assumptions about productivity based on menstrual cycles,” the draft stated.
When questioned about the potential risk to the use of sanitary napkins due to certain products used in the manufacturing, Irani highlighted the availability of the sanitary napkins at 1 rupees which are devoid of such complaints.
Irani also highlighted the scheme brought into take care of the sanitary waste in 2014. In her written response she included various schemes initiate by the government to promote mensural hygiene. She said, “The Scheme for Promotion of Menstrual Hygiene, backed by the National Health Mission, aims to raise awareness, and is implemented through State Programme Implementation Plans. Additionally, under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation has developed National Guidelines on Menstrual Hygiene Management for rural areas”.
