In pollbound MP, sanitary pads put on political colour
PADDING UP Cong, BJP delve into campaigns to promote menstrual hygiene, dispel ‘myths’ BHOPAL:After
Congress started to reach out to women by distributing sanitary pad in envelopes with party symbol earlier this month, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regime has also started to reach out to the womenfolk by initiating an online campaign ‘No Shame in Menstruation’, urging people, especially women, to come forward, talk openly about issues related to menstrual hygiene and dispel the myths surrounding it.
Congress state spokesperson Deepti Singh said awareness related to menstrual hygiene holds significant importance in a state like Madhya Pradesh where a large percentage of women, especially in rural and tribal belts, were still unaware about it.
“Large number of women still use cloth, ash, soil, dried leaves during menstruation. Earlier this month, the women wing of the Congress ran a campaign in which sanitary pads were distributed and women were appraised of various aspects of the menstrual hygiene,” she said, adding it was sad that despite being in power for three terms, the BJP was still at the awareness level.
“It should have made efforts long back to improve menstrual hygiene in the state,” she added.
Only 38% girls in MP use hygienic menstrual protection, with mere 24% using sanitary napkins, as per National Health Family Survey-4 (NHFS4).
The health survey further says that in MP over three-quarters use cloth, 24% use sanitary napkins, 15% use locally prepared napkins and 3 percent use tampons.
Against this backdrop, the BJP regime in the state has also recently started an online campaign #NoShameinMenstruation to promote menstrual hygiene. Women and child development department and Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) have initiated the campaign through state government website mp.mygov.in, seeking suggestions/views on providing adequate information about menstrual health and hygiene, teaching safe use of sanitary pads, making low cost sanitary pads available, teaching environmentally safe disposal mechanisms and communicating importance of nutrition during menstruation.
People have started sharing their suggestions and views on the website. One Samvedna Palia commented, “Being a working woman, it’s very painful during those two days of every month .... there must be two days of menstruation leave at least ...”
Sandip Ghayal suggested in his comment that sanitary pads should be made available at all schools anganwadi centres and government hospitals for free.
The office of the chief minister said in a tweet, “Menstruation is a normal and natural process. There is no shame in talking about it. It is time we start spreading awareness across every section of society. Share your views regarding this by clicking…”
Menstruation is a taboo subject in MP and a topic that even women don’t want to discuss, says the MP government’s website, mp.mygov.in. “Rural Madhya Pradesh fared the worst in the country in menstrual health in the latest National Family Health Survey”, its adds.