Union Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani expressed concern that introducing menstrual leave might lead to discrimination against women in the workforce. In response to a query in the Rajya Sabha about the government considering legislation for menstrual leave, Irani emphasized that women today are pursuing more economic opportunities, and proposals should not inadvertently deny equal opportunities. The question arose from Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Manoj Kumar Jha, who inquired if the government was exploring compulsory provisions for employers to grant a specific number of leaves to female employees.
Irani, speaking from her personal perspective, noted that as a menstruating woman, she views menstruation as a natural part of a woman's life journey, not a handicap. Jha highlighted that Bihar, under former Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, was the first state to implement a menstrual leave policy. He also raised concerns about harmful chemicals in sanitary napkins and questioned whether the government plans to regulate them. Irani clarified that the Women and Child Development Ministry does not handle manufacturing issues, and there have been no recorded complaints about sanitary pads provided by the government. Suvidha sanitary napkins, part of the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana, are available at an affordable price of Rs 1.