ITANAGAR,  Mar 12: The Arunachal Pradesh Women’s Welfare Society (APWWS) today expressed its displeasure at the way discussion on menstrual leave for women was carried out at the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Friday.
The members of the august house, even if they had disagreed with the private member’s resolution on grant of leave to menstruating girls and women should have approached the subject with dignity and understanding, the women's body said.
Using unparliamentary words to describe a biological process shows ignorance and disrespect to girls and women. Menstruation is not a taboo.  
As a mother NGO, APWWS advices the honorable members to be more mindful of the words they use in the august house.
Further, the APWWS requested the Speaker Legislative Assembly to expunged the word “letra” from the records.
The first day of the Arunachal Assembly’s Budget session got off to a rather controversial start over the ‘Menstruation Benefit Bill, 2017’. The Bill proposed that women working in public and private sectors get two days of paid menstrual leave every month.
Arunachal Pradesh women and child development minister Alo Libang on Friday told the Assembly that a decision on granting a one-day menstrual leave to women would be taken in the state after a discussion in the matter was held with stakeholders.
Responding to a private member resolution moved in the Assembly by Congress legislator Ninong Ering, Libang said his department, in coordination with the health and education officials, would discuss the matter with the Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Women (APSCW) and other organisations.
He also said that women legislators would also be consulted before a decision was arrived at.
In response, the minister said that the Arunachal government too, provided various facilities to the womenfolk of the state.
"Views could be divergent among women on the issue of menstruation. Many may not want to disclose it. We will discuss the issue elaborately with the stakeholders," Libang said, further requesting Ering to withdraw the resolution.
The Congress MLA, in keeping with the request, withdrew the resolution  before the House was adjourned for the day.

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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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