3rd Jan 2018 09:01:PM Editorials
Eastern Sentinel Arunachal News

Lok Sabha Member of Parliament from Arunachal Pradesh, Ninong Ering, has moved a private members’ Bill, ‘the Menstruation Benefit Bill, 2017’, which has proposed that women working in the public and private sectors get two days of paid menstrual leave every month. The Bill also seeks to provide better facilities for rest at the workplace during menstruation. 

It is true that for some section of women, period is accompanied by severe cramps but for the majority it is nothing more than a slight discomfort and is not debilitating whatsoever.

The move is well-intentional and laudable, but at the same time for today’s women it is a stupid idea. The challenge of women’s empowerment in India is to ensure their participation in the workforce and this move may prove counter-productive.

More than menstrual leave, what women need is proper facilities at the workplace and change in mindset regarding the taboo surrounding a natural biological process. 

Since ages and sadly even at present, women have been discriminated during the menstrual cycle. Considered ‘impure’ during such days, even young children entering into puberty are confined to a list of ‘dos&don’t’s’ instead of the handholding and counseling that they need most. 

Mr. Ering is way off the mark when he says, Women not only face immense discomfort but their productivity also drops on the first and second days of the menstrual cycle. Therefore, menstrual leave is desirable both from the perspectives of female employees and employers.’

There are many women who power through these days despite the discomfort and for the MP to suggest such a thing shows his lack of understanding. Remember our grandmothers and mothers who went through all of life’s ups and downs embracing the menstrual cycle. We modern women with all facilities at hand have nothing to crib about.


Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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