Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka government on Wednesday issued an order mandating one day of paid menstrual leave per month to all working women aged 18-52, working in permanent, contractual and outsourced jobs.

The state Cabinet had last month cleared the Menstrual Leave Policy.

"The concerned employers are directed to provide the facility of 12 days paid leave per annum -- one day per month -- during their menstrual cycle to all permanent/contract/outsourced female employees, between the age group of 18 to 52 years," the government order said.

"It is applicable to women working in all industries and establishments registered under the Factories Act, 1948; Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961; Plantation Workers Act, 1951; Beedi and Cigar Workers (Conditions of Employment) Act, 1966; and Motor Transport Workers Act, 1961, with the good intention of enhancing their health, efficiency and performance and enhancing their mental well-being," it said.

As per the order, the women employees have to use the menstrual leave in that very month and cannot "carry over" it to the next month.

It also clarifies that the women employee need not submit any medical certificate to avail a day's menstrual leave every month.

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Banda (UP) (PTI): A 15-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly abducted and gang-raped at a hotel here by two youths and a minor, who then abandoned her under a bridge, police said on Thursday.

The two youths involved in the crime were arrested, and the juvenile was apprehended on Wednesday, they said.

According to Atarra Circle Officer Praveen Yadav, the arrested have been identified as Mahesh Kushwaha (18), Shakti Singh (19), and a 15-year-old boy, all residents of Girwan.

He said the incident took place around 8.30 pm on Tuesday.

The complaint filed by the girl's father stated that his daughter had gone to the market in Atarra town with a friend, when the three accused on a motorcycle made her inhale some intoxicant. They took the semi-conscious teenager to a hotel on Station Road, committed the crime and then abandoned her under the Ken Canal bridge before fleeing, CO Yadav said.

A case was registered on Wednesday, and all the accused were held, the CO said.

He added that one of the arrested accused was a former acquaintance of the victim. RUK