PERIOD POVERTY IS NOT A WOMAN'S PROBLEM
India has recently topped as the most populated country. Around 355 million women form half of the population. Menstrual poverty is affecting half the population. Therefore it is not only a woman's issue it should be the issue of the nation. According to the National Family Health Survey, only 57.6% of Indian women use hygienic methods of menstrual protection, while the rest resort to unhygienic practices like cloth, ashes, or even animal dung. The lack of access to affordable menstrual products and facilities is a major barrier for women and girls. Poverty just adds insult to injury.
RURAL AND URBAN MENSTRUAL POVERTY
In rural areas, where the majority of the population lives, menstrual hygiene is a taboo subject. Women have to hide their periods from everyone around them and suffer in silence. They have limited access to clean water, toilets, and sanitary napkins. Many have to travel long distances to buy menstrual products or seek medical assistance. Moreover, menstruating women and girls are considered impure and are often excluded from social and religious events, which affects their mental health alongside social well-being. This situation arises from a lack of menstrual education in India.
Poverty is not only a rural issue, the situation is no better in urban areas. Menstrual hygiene products are expensive and often taxed as luxury items. According to a survey conducted by Plan India, a non-profit organization, 70% of urban Indian women cannot afford menstrual hygiene products, and 25% miss work or school during the days that they heavily bleed. Lack of access to clean and safe toilets in schools and public places also makes it difficult for girls to manage their periods and stay in school, or conduct heavy work. The concept of menstrual hygiene does not exist in our society. Indian women have no idea of their menstrual rights and the basics of hygienic survival.
RESULTS OF MENSTRUAL POVERTY
Menstrual poverty has severe health consequences for women. Using unhygienic materials like cloth or leaves during menstruation can lead to infections and reproductive health issues. It can turn fatal in some extreme situations
Lack of access to menstrual products and facilities also increases the risk of gender-based violence and sexual exploitation, as girls may have to exchange sex for menstrual products or use unsafe public toilets or open fields.
To tackle menstrual poverty in India, several initiatives have been taken by the government, non-governmental organizations, and private companies. The Indian government launched the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission) in 2014, which aims to provide access to toilets and improve menstrual hygiene management in schools and public places. In 2018, the government also abolished the tax on sanitary napkins, making them more affordable for women and girls. Yet, the situation remains unaltered because of the socio-cultural stigma around the subject.
Non-governmental organizations like Goonj, EcoFemme, and Aakar Innovations have been working to provide menstrual products, education, and employment opportunities for women and girls in rural areas. They have developed low-cost, eco-friendly, and reusable menstrual products like cloth pads and menstrual cups, which are not only affordable but also sustainable and empowering.
Private companies like Whisper, Stayfree, and P&G have also launched campaigns and initiatives to raise awareness about menstrual hygiene and provide products and services for women and girls. They have collaborated with schools, hospitals, and community centers to distribute free menstrual products and provide education and counseling on menstrual health and hygiene.
INITIATIVES ARE NOT ENOUGH
Despite these efforts, menstrual poverty is still a widespread problem in India, and more needs to be done to ensure that all women and girls have access to menstrual products, facilities, and education. The government should invest more in menstrual hygiene management programs and ensure that they reach the most vulnerable populations, including rural women and girls, homeless women, and women with disabilities.
HERE'S HOW YOU CAN BRING CHANGE.
Spriha Society urges NGOs and private companies to collaborate with the government and local communities to develop sustainable and culturally appropriate solutions to menstrual poverty. Our society is working on raising awareness and breaking the taboo around menstruation, by involving men in the conversation. Menstrual poverty or period poverty is the poverty of the mind. Spriha Society members are reaching out to schools and organing awareness camps.
The menstrual situation in India cannot change until mindsets change. It is very superficial to have paper laws on menstrual health and hygiene while the ground reality remains grotesque. Menstrual hygiene is a basic human right. A country cannot grow if half of its population does not have access to basic human rights. You can contribute to this noble cause by keeping an eye on our website www.sprihasociety.org.
Share and visit our website to stay updated and update the people around you about menstruation to end menstrual poverty in India. Help Spriha Society by joining hands with us to put an end to the taboo around menstruation in India. Enough of Whispering menstruation, it's time to scream.