'Period leave' for women staff of news channel in Kerala

In a first of its kind in Kerala, leading media group Mathrubhumi has introduced 'period leave' for women employees in its TV News channel.

"The employees have the option of taking leave either on the first or any other day of their menstrual cycle. This is an additional leave," Joint Managing Director of Mathrubhumi group M V Shremyams Kumar said.

About 50 women in the channel's news desk and reporting will be among those benefited, sources said.

The leave facility came into effect in Mathrubhumi News, a 24-hour Malayalam television news channel of the group from yesterday.

"This is an additional leave besides the normal leave the employees are entitled to," he said.

Two organisations, including 'Culture Machine, a Mumbai- based media company, are said to have already introduced the 'First day of Period' leave policy.