WOMEN SHOULD HAVE FREE ACCESS TO SANITARY NAPKINS: AKSHAY

The actor also addresses how menstruation shouldn’t be a taboo

National Award-winning actor Akshay Kumar, who is addressing the issue of menstrual hygiene in his forthcoming film PadMan, says that women should get sanitary napkins for free as it is a basic necessity for them. When asked if he wants to reach out to the government to cut down on the GST rate on sanitary napkins, he says, “Why just cut down on GST? I think women should have free access to sanitary napkins. This is their basic necessity. It is about menstrual hygiene and not luxury. It is unfortunate, and I am ashamed to say that 82 percent women in this country have no access to sanitary pads and they are mistreated during those five days.”

PadMan is a biopic on Arunachalam Muruganantham, the inventor of a low-cost sanitary pad making machine in India. The subject of menstruation is considered taboo or a sensitive issue. So what are the elements that he has kept in mind while promoting the film? “Firstly, do not call it a sensitive issue. It is a natural process of a human body. It is time to get rid of those taboos attached to it. It is time to treat the issue maturely. Also from the women’s end, they should not shy away from talking about the issue, and certainly should not whisper about it,” he says, adding that the way festivals like Holi and Diwali are celebrated, people should also “celebrate when a girl meets with her puberty.”

“When you celebrate it, the girl who is already going through a physical and hormonal transition will feel confident and secure. But we excluded our women from the normalcy of life during those five days. So, from the first experience, women feel that period is something that they should hide. So, you know where we should start from,” he adds.

PHOTO: MITESH BHUVAD/ PTI Actor Akshay Kumar’s upcoming film PadMan is a biopic on Arunachalam Muruganantham, the inventor of a lowcost sanitary pad making machine in India