DSNLU Visakhapatnam introduces menstrual leave policy for students

Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU), Visakhapatnam has introduced a Menstrual Leave Policy for students from the ongoing academic year 2024-25.

The proposal for this policy was put forth by the student body to the Registrar last academic year and was tabled before the Executive Council in January this year. The policy was approved in the same month and it was decided that it would be implemented this academic year onwards.

As per this policy, students are given one day leave per month.

In order to avail this leave, students will have to maintain a minimum of 65% in attendance.

As per the policy, students availing leaves under this policy need not submit a medical certificate, but only need to fill a form and/or send a mail to the concerned academic representative in-charge, as prescribed by the University.

Speaking to Bar & Bench about the initiative, DSNLU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Surya Prakasa Rao said,

"We were happy to approve the policy. Menstruation is a natural process for women students and various other health issues like headaches, stomach pain, etc accompany it. So there are no hard and fast technicalities to be looked into for a student to avail this leave. They only need to drop a mail once they have resumed college.

This can be availed during the examinations also, but generally students do not prefer carrying forward an exam to the next semester," Prof Rao added.

Prof Rao also mentioned that the University has been implementing other welfare schemes for its students.

"Last summer, a student had to be hospitalised due to a sunstroke. Since then we decided to pay close attention to the health of our students. I spent 7-8 lakhs for this - on protein food and fruits juices. The dining hall is renovated and we are also allowing students to utilize the 30 AC rooms in the guest house especially during the summers. On other days too, students can stay in the AC rooms at a concessional rate of ₹500 for five days," he said.

Last week, HNLU Raipur introduced a menstrual leave policy for its students. Before that, it was introduced in MNLU Mumbai, MNLU Aurangabad and NLIU Bhopal. In the past year, DNLU Jabalpur, NALSAR Hyderabad and NLUJA Assam also introduced menstrual leave for their students.

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