Punjab University becomes the first to offer menstrual leave from 2024-25 year
Four day leave to be granted to female students during menstruation across a semester, split across one day per monthly teaching calendar
Menstrual leave beginning from 2024-25 session
Renu Vig, the vice chancellor of Punjab University, has granted menstrual leave for it’s female students beginning from 2024-25 session. This decision has come after a campaign led by the student union president, Jatinder Singh, advocated for the implementation of menstrual leave. This issue had been a part of his election campaign during the Punjab University Campus Students Council (PUCSC) elections in 2023.
This leave will be granted for four days per semester with one being issued ‘per calendar month of teaching’ where teaching has taken place for at least 15 days. The menstrual leave will not be applicable during examinations, internal or external. The number of lectures delivered on the day of absence will be adjusted with the total number of lectures delivered at the end of each month. To apply for menstrual leave, students will be required to fill out a form within five days of their absence.
According to the Hindustan Times, The Punjab University Vice Chancellor (PU V-C) formed a committee under the Dean of University (DUI) to look into this matter. The first meeting was held on January 24 where PUCSC vice president Ranmeekjot Kaur and general secretary Deepak Goyat had opposed the move. The president had then submitted a list of universities that had already implemented the move for review and a sub-committee was formed on February 15 to study these proposals.
Punjab University is the first university of it’s league to grant menstrual leave to it’s female students. Other such universities of the kind are Gauhati University in Assam, NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, and Tezpur University, Assam.
A circular was issued on Wednesday, April 10, by the DUI, Rumina Sethi. The official circular stated, “This is for the information of all the Chairpersons/Directors/Coordinators of Departments/Institutes/Centres/Regional Centres & Rural Centre, Kauni that the Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, Punjab University, Chandigarh has implemented/granted Menstrual Leave in anticipation of the approval of Senate to the Girl Students of Punjab University, Chandigarh w.e.f the odd semester of forthcoming Academic Session 2024-25 with the following terms and conditions.”
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