KERALA: In a pioneering move, the Kerala govt has announced to grant menstrual leave for female students enrolled in all state universities coming under the Department of Higher Education.
Higher Education Minister R Bindu tkaing to Facebook made the announcement. “Taking into consideration the mental and physical difficulties faced by female students during menstruation, necessary steps will be taken to implement menstrual leave in all universities,” she said in a Facebook post.
She hailed the decision taken by the Cochin University. The Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) is providing menstrual leave to its students. This is the first of a kind decision in Kerala hat an educational centre has given menstrual leave to students.
The decision by CUSAT came at the backdrop of a epresentation made by the SFI-led students’ union of the university. The student ever since have been demanding the approval. On January 11t,h, the varsity had sanctioned an additional two per cent condonation of shortage of attendance to female students, in each semester.
Adding that menstrual cycle are days of emotonal roller coaster for many- Bindu said “”Let the girls relax during the difficult days of their menstrual cycle.”
“Having considered the requests for menstruation benefits to female students, the Vice-Chancellor has ordered to sanction an additional 2 per cent of condonation of shortage of attendance to female students, in each semester, subject to reporting to the Academic Council,” a recent order issued by the joint registrar of CUSAT had said.
The order would be applicable to female students of all streams, including those pursuing PhD, in the university and is expected to be implemented with immediate effect.