Karnataka approves one paid menstrual leave per month across sectors and key proposals

In a landmark move aimed at promoting gender-sensitive workplaces, the Karnataka cabinet on Thursday approved one day of menstrual leave for women employees across all sectors, from garment factories to the IT industry. While states like Bihar and Odisha have earlier introduced menstrual leave for women employees, Karnataka’s policy stands out as the first in the country to extend this benefit across both public and private sectors, covering a wide spectrum of the workforce.

State Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H. K. Patil, announcing the decision after the cabinet meeting, described it as “a progressive measure towards ensuring gender-sensitive labour policies.” The move is expected to directly benefit lakhs of women working in Karnataka’s industrial, service, and technology sectors.

Women’s rights organisations have hailed the decision as a milestone in mainstreaming menstrual health and workplace inclusivity. For decades, many have argued that menstrual discomfort is a legitimate health concern that deserves formal acknowledgment, not stigma or silence. With this decision, Karnataka has become a model for other states and private companies to emulate.

Alongside this historic approval, the cabinet cleared several major proposals spanning labour welfare, education, infrastructure, and tourism. The Karnataka Labour Welfare Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was passed to enhance financial aid under six existing welfare schemes, including educational incentives for organised workers and their dependents.

In infrastructure development, the government sanctioned the reconstruction and rehabilitation of 39 major bridges at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore under the first phase. To boost emergency response in high-rise zones, an advanced Aerial Ladder Platform Vehicle, capable of reaching 52 to 54 metres, will be procured at an estimated Rs 16 crore.

Under urban development, Aurad in Bidar district will be upgraded from a town panchayat to a City Municipal Council, following the Karnataka Municipalities Act, 1964. Several projects under the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) also received approval, including the maintenance of a 20 MLD Used Water Treatment Plant and 5 MLD Intermediate Sewage Pumping Stations at Nagasandra, worth Rs 26.02 crore.

In education, the cabinet approved the establishment of a new medical college in Kanakapura with an intake of 150 students and a 300-bed teaching hospital at a cost of Rs 550 crore. Further, Rs 70 crore was sanctioned for renovating CPC Polytechnic in Mysuru and Rs 50 crore for upgrading Chintamani Polytechnic with new facilities.

The government also cleared a Rs 55.33 crore eco-tourism and cultural development project at Devikarani Estate in Tataguni under the Special Assistance to State Capital Investment scheme, besides various land and development approvals in Mangaluru, Belagavi, and other districts.

Among all the decisions taken, the menstrual leave policy stands out as a socially transformative step, recognising women’s health and dignity as integral to the state’s labour framework. Karnataka’s inclusive approach could redefine how workplaces across India address menstrual well-being and equality.