Varsity questions female students on abortions, date of menstruation

JAIPUR: Students seeking admission to a private university in Tonk, Rajasthan, were in for a surprise when they received health profile forms as part of the applications to be filled for the current academic year. The form provided by Banasthali University – an all-women residential educational establishment – asked applicants to disclose details of their menstrual cycle and reproductive status for its records. However, the institution’s alumni do not believe there’s anything wrong with this. Moreover, they point out that the form has been in existence for quite a few years now. Shwetangi Goyal, who did her B Tech (Biotechnology) at the university through 2011-15, recalled filling up a form that enquired if there was any irregularity in her menstrual cycle. “But I think it is well within the university management’s rights to ask such questions. Here, students usually get their medicines from wardens… the university does not want them to self-medicate,” she said. Another alumnus of Banasthali, who enrolled for an MBA course at the university in 2013, also defended the questions posed by the health profile forms. Upon being contacted by HT, she wanted to know was: “Is the story going to be positive or negative?” The university’s admission form poses several “intrusive” questions to single and married women, going as far as to ask if the candidate is pregnant or has had an abortion in the past (see box). Sources say the university started maintaining gynaecological profiles of students after a dead newborn was found in one of its hostels. Banasthali vice-chancellor Aditya Shastri said such health profiles are maintained to enable efficient handling of health services in the residential university. “The health profile form is filled after the students are admitted to the university. There are a couple of gynaecological questions too, but they apply only to married students. Unmarried students are not asked any questions regarding their sexual health,” he added.