August 15th 2024.
In a recent announcement, Odisha's Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida has declared that state government and private sector employees will now be entitled to a day of paid leave during their menstrual cycle. This decision, however, will be left to the discretion of the employees and is not mandatory.
Parida, who also oversees the women and child development department, shared this news while attending an Independence Day event in Cuttack. According to the new policy, female employees can choose to take this leave on either the first or second day of their period. "It will be optional," Parida clarified.
This decision was influenced by a young Odia girl who had raised the issue of paid menstrual leave at the United Nations Civil Society Conference 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya. Ranjita Priyadarshini, a women's rights activist from Odisha, had highlighted the challenges faced by women all over the world during their periods and had urged for this change to be implemented.
Priyadarshini had emphasized that women suffer from physical pain during menstruation and this affects their ability to function at work. With this new policy in place, female employees in Odisha can now take a day off to rest and take care of themselves during this time. This move has been welcomed by many as a step towards promoting gender equality and acknowledging the needs of women in the workforce.
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