Odisha declares period leave for both govt & private women staffers

BHUBANESWAR: Female employees in govt and private sectors in Odisha will get a day's paid period leave, deputy chief minister Pravati Parida announced on Thursday after a Independence Day programme in Cuttack.

"The leave will be optional and can be taken either on the first or the second day of the menstrual cycle, depending on the woman's preference," said Parida, who also serves as the minister in charge of state women and child development (WCD) department.

Odisha joined Bihar that already offers menstrual leave for working women and Kerala that introduced menstrual leave for female students in state universities in Jan 2023.

A nationwide push for menstrual leave was made in the last Parliament session through a private member's bill proposed by Congress MP from Kerala Hibi Eden, seeking three days of paid leave per month for working women across the country.

The initiative in Odisha is part of the 100-day work plan of chief minister Mohan Majhi's govt. According to WCD department special secretary Rina Mohapatra, instructions have been issued to implement the leave within 100 days of BJP govt assuming office. Majhi took his oath as chief minister on June 12.

The move has been welcomed by advocates for women's rights, including social worker Ranjita Priyadarshini, who had long campaigned for paid menstrual leave.


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