Villupuram MP D Ravikumar

VILLUPURAM: Villupuram MP D Ravikumar has urged the Union labour and employment ministry to implement a comprehensive national workplace policy framework that includes flexible working arrangements, menopause awareness programmes, and occupational health support.
The VCK MP drew the attention of the House on Monday to the absence of a comprehensive policy for women experiencing menopause.
The physiological transition, which will affect approximately 401 million Indian women by 2026, according to the office of the registrar general, has been stigmatised for decades, leading to significant professional and economic consequences, he said.
“Research by Simply Health indicates 23% of working women aged 40-60 contemplate resignation due to menopausal symptoms, while 14% are actively planning to leave their positions. In the US alone, the Mayo Clinic estimates productivity losses at $1.8 billion annually. In India, where 49% of women aged 45-54 are in the labour force, the impact is expected to be more severe,” he said.
Overall, menopause affects 15% of Indian women. Early onset menopause prevails among 5% in rural areas and 3% in urban areas.
“This healthcare crisis is exacerbated by the fact that hysterectomy procedures account for 84% of the disparity in menopause rates among women of different educational backgrounds, necessitating interventions to structurally address the plight of women undergoing menopause,” he said.