Menstrual Equity: Need of the Hour

Menstrual equity is not confined to “affordability and accessibility” of products. It also focuses on reproductive health and education. It is about ensuring that women have the necessities, support, and options to choose and make decisions about how they wish to care for their menstrual health. So, menstrual leave also falls within its ambit. Menstrual equity also stresses on ending the stigma that surrounds menstruation which has prevented decision-makers, providers of health care and others from making menstrual health a priority. India is lagging behind in ensuring menstrual equity. India’s schemes for menstrual hygiene are inadequate and the Central Government has not come up with menstrual leave policies yet. This paper discusses about the need for bringing about comprehensive reforms to address the problem of menstrual inequity.