Menstruation patterns are neccesary medical details

Investigating “the menstrual question” 

MUMBAI, India – India’s women bureaucrats are being told to provide details of their menstrual cycles in a new job appraisal form, a move that has angered female civil servants.

Among questions about goals and skills, the latest appraisal form, sent out earlier this year, asks women in India’s sprawling bureaucracy questions such as “when was your last menstrual period?” or “give details of your menstrual history.”

The form also specifies that “all female officers” must list details of their last maternity leave.

“This is insensitive. We feel strongly about this,” said Seema Vyas, a civil servant in the western state of Maharashtra’s administration department. “What will the government do with this information?”

All civil servants routinely undergo health checkups, but the details of the tests are not supposed to be part of their appraisals.

The appraisal form was based on guidelines issued by the Health Ministry, a senior government official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to reporters.

(Source: Associated Press)

A top official form the Indian civil service has since revealed plans to remove this part of the appraisal form, following an intervention by the Indian prime minister.