Students Of Punjab University May Soon Avail Menstrual Leaves

Chandigarh's Punjab University has granted students "menstrual benefits", becoming the first educational institute in the region to provide menstrual leaves to women. On April 10, the University Vice Chancellor Renu Vig granted the proposal which is poised to come into force in the academic year 2024-25. The proposal now awaits the approval of the University Senate, a report in the Hindustan Times stated. University Dean Rumina Sethi issued a circular granting menstrual leave to students starting the next academic year.

While the menstrual leave is granted, students are expected to adhere to certain terms and conditions as mentioned in the circular. These include the number of leaves available per month and clauses for leaves during examinations. The menstrual benefit may be permitted by the chairperson or director of the department, based on self-certification by the student.

Menstrual Leaves At PU

The Punjab University stated certain terms and conditions to avail of menstrual leaves. Firstly, students can take one day of leave ‘per calendar month of teaching’, where teaching has taken place for at least 15 days. Another condition states that students will be allowed to take a maximum of four such leaves per semester, with the leave days limited to teaching days.

Moreover, leaves will not be permitted during any examinations, whether mid-semester or end-semester exams, internal or external, or even for practical examinations. Students will have to fill out a form at the department office to avail themselves of menstrual leave. Furthermore, the leave must be applied within five working days of the student’s absence.

According to the Hindustan Times, VC Renu Vig had formed a menstrual benefit under the dean of university instruction (DUI) in January. On February 15, the President submitted proposals from six universities where this system is already in place to support its move, after which, a sub-committee was constituted to draft a policy for the university.

Other Institutes

Recently, national law universities in Maharashtra also introduced one day per month of menstrual leave to students. While Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU) in Mumbai came out with its policy document this week, MNLUs in Nagpur and Aurangabad introduced it recently. The policy allows a leave of five days per semester.

Earlier in 2024, the National Law Institute University in Bhopal also introduced the menstrual leave policy, which mandates an aggregate of 65% final attendance by the end of the semester. More institutes across India that have introduced menstrual leave policies include NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, and Gauhati University and Tezpur University in Assam. 

The first university in India to adopt a menstrual leave policy was Kerala’s Cochin University of Science and Technology, which granted the proposal in January 2023. Soon after, the State Department of Higher Education declared that it would provide menstrual leave to female students enrolled in all state-run universities.