Kerala University Grants "Menstruation Benefits" For Female Students

Taking into consideration the long-awaited ultimatum of the students, a Kerala university has allowed an additional two percent of condonation for the shortage of female students' attendance in each semester. Female students can now avail "menstruation benefits" in the form of additional condonation for a shortage of attendance.

The Cochin University of Science and Technology is an autonomous institution with over 8,000 students in various streams, and more than half of the students are girls.

"After considering the requests for menstruation benefits to female students, the Vice-Chancellor has ordered to sanction an additional 2% of condonation of female students' lack of attendance in each semester, subject to reporting to the Academic Council," stated an order issued by the joint registrar.

Kerala University Menstruation Benefits

According to university sources, the students' union has been pressing for menstruation benefits for female students for quite some time now. They had submitted a formal proposal with regard to this to the vice-chancellor. An order was issued following the approval.

A CUSAT official said that the condonation would vary for each student depending on their attendance. "It will be different for each student. Each female student can claim two percent of their total attendance as menstrual benefits. That's why the exact number of leaves is not mentioned in the order," said the official. This order will apply to female students of all disciplines, including those pursuing PhDs at the university.

Namitha George expressed happiness that their demand was met by the university without any objections. "As per the rules, CUSAT students need 75 percent attendance in each semester to appear for the exams. But, through the new order, female students will get a relaxation of two percent in this, and their eligible attendance is lowered to 73 percent in each semester," she told PTI.

The order is expected to be implemented after the procedural approval of the academic council. Sreedevi, a Ph.D. student, said that a similar system should be implemented in all higher education institutions. "The CUSAT's decision to grant menstruation benefits for girl students is a historic one. I feel it is very important, and it should be implemented in all colleges and universities," she said.

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