Menstrual Leave for Female Students, Good Idea!

In a groundbreaking move, the Kerala government decided to grant two days of menstrual leave each month to female students of the Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).

General Education minister S Sivankutty said the decision was taken recognizing the physically demanding nature of many skill-training programmes, in which many female students are excelling.

Female students are good at even traditionally labour-intensive trades.

In addition, the Kerala government decided to make all Saturdays holidays for ITI students.

These days, women are proving they are no less to men and are active in every field, including a few most physically demanding skill-training trades. In the wake of such a situation, the government has decided to grant two days of menstrual leave each month for female trainees in ITIs, the statement said.

Female students in nearly 100 ITIs in Kerala will benefit from this decision.

Last year, the Kerala Higher Education department announced menstrual leave for female students studying in all the state universities, administered by the Department of Higher Education.

To compensate for the lost training time due to the Saturday holiday rule, ITI shifts will be rescheduled. The first will be from 7.30 am to 3 pm and the second from 10 am to 5.30 pm.

Though Saturday will be a holiday, students wishing to use them can take training in shop-floor and other short-term training courses or extracurricular activities, officials said.