Odisha announces one day menstrual leave for State govt, private employees

Odisha government has announced one-day menstrual leave for the State government and private sector employees on the occasion of 78th Independence Day on Thursday.

The announcement was made by the Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida during district-level Independence Day celebration in Cuttack.

The women employees of both the State government and private sector can avail the leave on the first or second day of the menstrual cycle.

Making the announcement, Parida said, “Earlier menstrual leave was not allowed. Now the women employees can avail the leave on the first or second day of the menstrual cycle. It is optional for them. It will be applied both in the government and the private sectors."

“It was a long standing demand for working women. I am thankful to Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida for the announcement on behalf of all the working women. It can be easily implemented in the government sector. However, it will be difficult to be implemented in the private and corporate sectors. It will be more difficult in case of women employees working in unorganized sectors and working as contractual workers. Even they are not getting maternity leaves there,” said social activist Namrata Chadha.

“When many private organisations are not even allowing maternity leave, it will be difficult for them to allow a paid menstrual leave. I would like to request the Deputy Chief Minister to ensure its implementation in the private sector,” she said.

Earlier, Odia woman Ranjeeta Priyadarshini from Sambalpur had launched an online campaign addressing Union Labour and Employment Minister to provide paid leave to all women employees at government and private organisations who are on their periods.