Itanagar: A female legislator of Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) Gum Tayeng openly criticized party colleague and BJP MLA Lokam Tassar for his statement on a discussion of menstrual leave in the state assembly. "I don't support Lokam Tassar's statement on menstruation. This is natural and it happens to all females," said Tayeng to ETV Bharat in an exclusive interview.
Tayeng said that the matter needs to be discussed with the stakeholders concerned. "This is a very important issue raised by Ninong Erring. This issue should get prominence," she further said.
Earlier, on March 11, during the discussion of menstrual leave for women in ongoing session of Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly Lokam Tassar, BJP MLA from Koloriang constituency said that the assembly is 'too holy' to discuss a 'litra cheez' (dirty thing) like menstruation.
Meanwhile, BJP legislator Tana Hali who represented the Doimukh constituency said that the Nyishi tribe custom bars women from meeting and even having meals with men during this "unclean period".
Kani Nada Maling, Secretary-General, Arunachal Pradesh Women’s Welfare Society (APWWS) while talking to ETV Bharat said, "the members of the august House should have approached the subject with dignity and understanding even if they had disagreed with the private member’s resolution on grant of leave to menstruating girls and women."
"Using unparliamentarily words to describe a biological process shows ignorance and disrespect for girls and women. Menstruation is not taboo. As a mother NGO, APWWS advises the honorable members to be more mindful of the words they use in the august house," she said adding that the APWWS have also requested the speaker of the House to expunge the word “litra cheez” from records.
Earlier, the controversy erupted when senior Congress MLA Ninong Ering from Pasighat moved a Private Member Resolution seeking to introduce a bill that will grant menstrual leave to working women and girls, especially on the first day of menstruation.
Ninong Ering referred to countries like Japan, Italy, and Indian states like Kerala and Bihar where there is a provision for menstrual leave. “It could be very annoying for women and girls to work during menstruation, especially on the first day. If they are granted one-day leave, they can discharge their duties with more dedication,” Ering said.
When our correspondent contacted Ninong Erring over the issue, he said, "I admit it as a very critical issue and that's why I tried to raise it on the floor of the house. I am happy to note that the State government has agreed to discuss the matter of a day's leave during menstruation with concerned stakeholders."
Later, Arunachal Pradesh Women and Child development minister Alo Libang requested Ering to withdraw the resolution and said a decision in this regard will be taken after discussion with women legislators and other stakeholders.
Aware of the importance of the issue, the Directorate of Family Welfare, Government of Delhi, has carried out a survey over menstruation in association with the Delhi-based Maulana Azad Medical College. The study was mostly carried out among school-going adolescent girls who pointed out that there is disbelief regarding menstruations.
The study said that during an in-depth interaction with the teachers it emerged that male teachers were apprehensive of discussing menstrual hygiene issues with their students, and often lacked correct knowledge of menstrual hygiene practices.
"Training of all teachers on the subject of menstrual hygiene management is practically required as part of the pedagogical process to ensure transmission of accurate information," the study highlighted.
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