Odisha has become the third state in India to offer menstrual leave, granting government employees under 55 years of age 12 days of leave annually. This policy, implemented after months of advocacy by women’s rights activists, aims to acknowledge the physical discomfort women experience during menstruation. However, the leave is restricted to one day per month, with unused leave expiring at the end of each month. While the government’s decision is seen as a positive step towards gender equality, activists urge private sector companies to follow suit and implement similar policies to ensure parity in the workforce. The policy supersedes an earlier notification that granted 10 additional casual leaves to women employees, but lacked clarity on usage and carryover.