Kerala Southern India is all set to become the first state in the country to provide menstrual leave to students in all government higher educational institutions.
The Kerala Higher Education Department on Thursday issued an order saying menstruating students can now appear for their semester exams with 73 per cent attendance instead of 75 per cent as mandated by the university rules.
In a tweet on Thursday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said, “Kerala once again presents a model for the country.”
“Menstrual and maternity leave will be given to female students of all institutions under our higher education department,” said the lone communist leader of the state government, reaffirming the LDF (Left Democratic Front) government’s commitment to realizing a gender-just society. does.” India.
Mr Vijayan said the decision to give two per cent concession in attendance is limited to students who “leave their studies due to various health problems during menstruation”.
The Kerala government has also announced that all girl students above the age of 18 can avail pregnancy leave of up to 60 days.
The authorities will not have to amend the rules of the university to incorporate the changes.
Minister of State for Higher Education and Social Justice R Bindu said the move to provide menstrual leave was first initiated by the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) in the state.
Keeping up with the long-standing demand of the students, the university on January 11 sanctioned two per cent additional allowance for short attendance to menstruating students.
“Since such a move is expected to provide relief to menstruating students, we have decided to implement it in all the universities of the state. Necessary amendments will be made in the university rules,” the minister said.
Namita George, president of the CUSAT Students’ Union, said, “We did not expect such a swift and positive response from the university.”
“And, now, it is being replicated across the state. We did not expect that our petition would garner such sudden action. We are thrilled,” she said Week,
Meanwhile, a PIL has been filed before the Supreme Court to introduce menstrual leave for students and working women across the country. According to Bar and Bench, the petition filed by advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi urged the court to direct state governments to frame rules for menstrual pain.