Tag: menstrual

SC urges Centre for menstrual hygiene model in schools across states

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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Central government to formulate standard operating procedures (SOPs) and develop a model for all state and Union Territories (UTs) in connection with menstrual hygiene for girls studying in schools.
A bench of Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and J.B. Pardiwala appointed the Union Health and Family Welfare Secretary as the nodal officer to coordinate with all the states and UTs. The bench said the nodal officer will collect data to develop a national policy.
During the hearing in the matter, the bench said the issue is of immense importance and the government should engage with all stakeholders for menstrual hygiene in schools, including government and government-aided schools, and also give leeway to states and UTs to modify the scheme as per their local needs.

The top court directed all states and UTs to bring on record their menstrual hygiene management strategies and plans and also noted that Ministries of Health and Family Welfare, Education, and Jal Shakti have schemes for menstrual hygiene.
The top court directed the Centre to file an updated status report by the end of July.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the Centre, said different ministries have guidelines and schemes dedicated to improve access to menstrual hygiene for young and adolescent girls. She stressed that the responsibility of providing health care services lies with state governments as public health is a state subject.
In an affidavit, the Health Ministry has said that public health is a state subject and the responsibility of providing healthcare services is that of respective state governments.
The top court also directed all states and UTs to make provision for ensuring availability of quality low-cost sanitary pads, vending machines in schools.

The Central government response came on a plea filed by Congress leader Jaya Thakur seeking issuance of directions for providing free sanitary pads to girls studying in classes 6 to 12 in government schools across the country.
The plea, filed through advocate Varinder Kumar Sharma, said serious difficulty is faced by adolescent females between the ages of 11 to 18 years, who are coming from poor backgrounds facing the insurmountable difficulties in receiving education on account of lack of access to education, a constitutional right under Article 21A of the Constitution of India and it is free and compulsory under the Right to Education Act, 2009.
“These are adolescent females who are not equipped with and are also not educated by their parents about menstruation and menstrual hygiene. The deprived economic status and illiteracy leads to prevalence of unhygienic and unhealthy practices which has serious health consequences; increases obstinacy and leads to eventual dropping out from schools,” added the plea.
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#urges #Centre #menstrual #hygiene #model #schools #states
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 10, 2023
Dubai firm announces paid menstrual, menopause leave; gets over 1K CVs in 24 hours

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The Dubai-based public relations agency, which announced a first-of-its-kind policy to support its female employees by offering paid leave for fertility-based treatments, menopause, and period-related leave, received more than 1,000 job applications in less than 24 hours.
On Tuesday, February 28, TishTash Communications, headquartered in Dubai, announced that its staff will receive paid leave for menstrual and menopause, in addition to a variety of other women’s health needs.
According to it, staff members can avail of up to six days of menopause (and menstrual) leave per year, which is not part of the employees’ personal or sick leave.
According to TishTash Communications, recent research shows menopausal symptoms are forcing women out of the workforce, with nearly a million women leaving their professions due to unmanageable symptoms.
The agency notes that more than 10 of its team members range in age from 35-45, and because of TishTash is an all-female workforce, the agency strives to create a culture that encourages open and safe conversations about both menopause and menstruation.
“I can’t reply fast enough,” said Natasha Hatherall, Founder and CEO of TishTash Communications told Khaleej Times.
The agency also received over 100 phone calls at the front desk asking if the company was hiring.
Natasha on Wednesday took to Linkedin and wrote,

“Less than 24 hours since we made this announcement at TishTash Communications and we have received over 1000 job applications and our office phone has not stopped ringing.”
“Some of the applications are so searingly honest from women describing how they are literally crippled with endometriosis at their desk but are working in companies where they fear calling in sick, especially with “women problems” for losing their jobs.”
“The need to work in a company where it is “ok” to be a woman and all that comes with that is massive and I thought I had insight before today, but the hundreds of applications and personal messages I’ve received across social media show me maybe we haven’t touched the half it it.”
“As ever, for us it is not just about creating headlines and driving awareness on topics close to our hearts, but it is about walking the walk and continuing to do so and this is what Polly Willams and I are committed to at TishTash.”
“We hope others may listen and take action to create change with us.”
Natasha has also received many notes praising the move on Linkedin.
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#Dubai #firm #announces #paid #menstrual #menopause #leave #CVs #hours
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 2, 2023
SC refuses to entertain PIL seeking menstrual pain leave for female students, working women

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New Delhi: The Supreme Court Friday refused to entertain a PIL seeking a direction to all the states to frame rules for menstrual pain leave for female students and working women at their respective workplaces, observing that the issue falls under the policy domain of the government,
A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud disposed of the petition and granted liberty to the PIL petitioner to approach the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development with a representation seeking a policy decision on the issue.
“This is a policy matter so we are not dealing with this…Having regard to the policy views, it would be appropriate if the petitioner approaches the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development. The petition is accordingly disposed of,” said the bench which also comprised justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala.
During the brief hearing, the bench took note of the submissions of a law student, opposing the PIL, that if employers are compelled to grant menstrual pain leaves to women employees every month then it may dis-incentivise them from hiring them.
The court, however, said though the plea had raised some important points, but the issue being a policy related, it cannot entertain this.
The petition, filed by Delhi resident Shailendra Mani Tripathi through lawyer Vishal Tiwari, had sought a direction to the Centre and all the states for compliance of section 14 of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961.
Section 14 of the Act deals with appointment of inspectors and says appropriate governments may appoint such officers and may define the local limits of jurisdiction within which they shall exercise their functions under this law.
Earlier on February 15, the top court had agreed to hear the PIL.

The plea had said countries like the United Kingdom, China, Wales, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, South Korea, Spain and Zambia are already providing menstrual pain leave in one form or the other.
It had said only women are empowered to propagate the human race with their special ability of creation and during different stages of maternity, she undergoes a number of physical and mental hardships, be it menstruation, pregnancy, miscarriage or any other related medical complications.
The had plea said the 1961 Act makes provisions for almost all the problems faced by women that can be understood by several of its provisions which have made it mandatory for employers to grant paid leave to women employees for certain number of days during pregnancy, in case of miscarriage, for tubectomy operation and also in cases of medical complications arising out of these stages of maternity.
“Ironically, the most disappointing aspect in the direction of respecting the rights of working women, is that in spite of a provision under section 14 of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, that there will be an inspector for a particular area to monitor the implementation of such great provisions, no government in India has created the post of inspectors, forget about the appointment of such inspectors,” the plea had claimed.
It had said the provisions of law under the 1961 Act are one of the “greatest steps” taken by Parliament to recognise and respect motherhood and maternity of working women.
“Definitely even today also, in several organisations, including government organisations, these provisions are not being implemented in their true spirit and with the same legislative intent with which it was enacted but at the same time one of the biggest aspects of this whole issue or one of the very basic problems related to maternity which are faced by every woman has been completely ignored by the legislature in this very good law and also by the executive while making rules, specifically the leave rules,” the petition had said.
It said the central civil services (CCS) leave rules have made provisions like child care leave for women for a period of 730 days during her entire service period to take care of her first two children till they attain the age of 18 years.
The plea had said this rule has also given 15 days of paternity leave to male employees to take care of a child which is another great step of a welfare state in recognising the rights and problems of working women.
“In spite of making all the above mentioned provisions in law to take care of women in difficult stages of her maternity, the very first stage of the maternity, the menstrual period, has been knowingly or unknowingly ignored by society, the legislature and other stakeholders in society except few organisations and state governments,” it had alleged.
The plea had said Bihar is the only state which has been providing two days of special menstrual pain leave to women since 1992.
It said there are some Indian companies that offer paid period leaves which include Zomato, Byju’s and Swiggy.
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#refuses #entertain #PIL #seeking #menstrual #pain #leave #female #students #working #women
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 24, 2023
SC agrees to hear plea seeking rules for menstrual pain leave next week

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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear next week a plea seeking a direction to all the states to frame rules for menstrual pain leaves for female students and working women at their respective work places.
The plea was mentioned for urgent listing before a bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, which said it would be listed on February 24.
The petition, filed by Delhi resident Shailendra Mani Tripathi, has also sought a direction to the Centre and all the states for compliance of section 14 of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961.
Section 14 of the Act deals with appointment of inspectors and says appropriate government may appoint such officers and may define the local limits of jurisdiction within which they shall exercise their functions under this law.
The plea, which was mentioned for urgent listing by petitioner’s advocate Vishal Tiwari, said countries like the United Kingdom, China, Wales, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, South Korea, Spain and Zambia are already providing menstrual pain leave in one form or the other.
It said only women are empowered to propagate the human race with their special ability of creation and during different stages of maternity, she undergoes a number of physical and mental hardships, be it menstruation, pregnancy, miscarriage or any other related medical complications.
The plea said the 1961 Act makes provisions for almost all the problems faced by women that can be understood by several of its provisions which have made it mandatory for employers to grant paid leave to women employees for certain number of days during pregnancy, in case of miscarriage, for tubectomy operation and also in cases of medical complications arising out of these stages of maternity.
“Ironically, the most disappointing aspect in the direction of respecting the rights of working women, is that in spite of a provision under section 14 of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, that there will be an inspector for a particular area to monitor the implementation of such great provisions, no government in India has created the post of inspectors, forget about the appointment of such inspectors,” the plea claimed.

It said the provisions of law under the 1961 Act are one of the “greatest steps” taken by Parliament to recognise and respect motherhood and maternity of working women.
“Definitely even today also, in several organisations including government organisations these provisions are not being implemented in their true spirit and with the same legislative intent with which it was enacted but at the same time one of the biggest aspects of this whole issue or one of the very basic problems related to maternity which are faced by every woman has been completely ignored by the legislature in this very good law and also by the executive while making rules, specifically the leave rules,” the petition said.
It said the central civil services (CCS) leave rules have made provisions like child care leave for women for a period of 730 days during her entire service period to take care of her first two children till they attain the age of 18 years.
The plea said this rule has also given 15 days of paternity leave to male employees to take care of a child which is another great step of a welfare state in recognising the rights and problems of working women.
“In spite of making all the above mentioned provisions in law to take care of women in difficult stages of her maternity, the very first stage of the maternity, the menstrual period, has been knowingly or unknowingly ignored by society, the legislature and other stake holders in society except few organisations and state governments,” it alleged.
The plea said Bihar is the only state which has been providing two days of special menstrual pain leave to women since 1992.
It said there are some Indian companies that offer paid period leaves which include Zomato, Byju’s and Swiggy.
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#agrees #hear #plea #seeking #rules #menstrual #pain #leave #week
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 15, 2023