Published April 30, 2026
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Getting Rid of Menstrual Stigma: Why Menstrual Leave Should Be A Legal Provision in India?
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- 1. Assistant Professor, School of Law, Brainware University, Kolkata
Description
This study investigates the necessity of a legal provision for menstrual leave in India, with the goals of combating the stigma associated with menstruation and promoting gender equality in both the workplace and society as a whole. A policy known as "menstrual leave" is one that enables women to take time off from their jobs or schools when they are experiencing their menstrual cycles. There is currently no provision in Indian law for menstruation leave, despite the fact that certain businesses in the country have voluntarily implemented such programs. The purpose of this article is to argue that a legal provision for menstrual leave is important to ensure that women are not discriminated against in the workplace and that they have the right to take time off during their menstrual cycles. However, the study also addresses concerns about the execution of rules for menstrual leave and proposes that the policy should be carefully drafted, with adequate instructions for how it should be implemented, in order to address concerns about its misuse and promote gender neutrality. In the end, the conclusion of the article is that it is essential to create a legal provision for menstrual leave in India in order to combat the stigma associated with menstruation and to promote gender equality in the workplace and throughout society.
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References
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