Leave granted, do the bosses know?

While women workers and activists have welcomed Cabinet decision, they want employers to implement it without stigma

As the Karnataka State Cabinet ’s recent decision to okay one-day menstrual leave for working women in government and private sectors gets hailed by health experts and women’s rights advocates, the bigger challenge of implementation lies ahead. While the policy is intended to ease the burden of menstrual pain, questions remain over its implementation and awareness among employers.

Studies suggest that menstrual pain can be more intense than any other physical pain for some women, making it physically challenging to manage daily tasks at home or work. For many employed women, enduring excruciating pain while meeting office deadlines is unavoidable. The government’s anno