‘Period’ of stigma comes to an end
Menstrual hygiene is no longer under wraps, but has become a movement in the state
LUCKNOW: The sight of soiled sanitary napkins strewn around schools and fields did not bother 18-year-old Khushbu Patel of Govardhanpur, until some volunteers associated with UNICEF and an NGO Sarthak organised a workshop on safe disposal of used sanitary napkins and Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) in 2016.
And then Khushboo decided to take the lead, demanding a community incinerator to dispose of soiled napkins in her village.
Gone are the days when the word ‘menstruation’ was taboo. Also gone are the stigmas attached to it, thanks not only to mainstream media but also some very spirited individuals, both men and women, who are putting in concerted efforts to educate young women about period hygiene. There is a sea change, as this once forbidden issue has now become a full-fledged movement across the state, especially in rural pockets.
And for many, girlhood has changed for the better.
“Never before were we told how hazardous a soiled sanitary napkin could be, if thrown in the open. But after coming to know about the health hazard factor, I thought why can’t our village have an incinerator? I raised the demand with our gram pradhan, who too was fortunately a woman. She readily agreed and got a community incinerator constructed to ensure safe disposal of used sanitary napkins,” said a confident Khushbu, adding now her village with a population of 5,000 people would be safe from pollution.
A PLATFORM
Kumar Bikram, Wash Officer, UNICEF Lucknow office said giving a platform to discuss women centric issues played a crucial role in bringing the subject into limelight. “We strongly believe that opening up on women centric issues that were never discussed before, actually helped in bringing change in society,” said Bikram, who has also worked extensively on menstrual hygiene management in Mirzapur and other backward districts.
Bikram said the NGOs and other social activists not only discussed the issue at length but also provided right information, helping women in handling periods in a far better way. “We told them that it was just a natural process and not a taboo and also bust many myths. The government’s role in providing low cost napkins cannot be denied as well,” he added.
Bikram said a UNICEF survey in UP in 2012 found that 44 % girls used unwashed cloth, 41% reusing cloth hid it in the room and 22% hid it in the thatched roof of the house. Only 6% reported burning as ultimate disposal, as burning of menstrual absorbent is considered taboo. Almost 91% girls were reported missing at least one to two days of school on an average.
He said using these evidences, adolescent-centred Garima project was designed with focus on rightful access to menstrual health and by 2017, the results were amazing. It was found that there was a significant change in menstrual hygiene and most adolescent girls (64.4%) had some discussion or dialogue about menstruation, absorbent use, restrictions and gender which was dismal earlier.
Over 75% who used old cotton cloth, practised adequate washing and there was a significantly higher proportion of correct disposal practices.
CHUPPI TODO KHUL KE BOLO
Another expert Dr Madhushree Pandey, chief functionary Sar-
thak Organisation, an NGO that was registered in 1997 and is working in 15 districts, especially on menstrual hygiene management in partnership with UNICEF,said, “Gruellingdrives, including UNICEF’s Garima, played a major role in transforming this issue into a movement. It helped girls and women volunteers to speak on the subject that was never discussed. The government’s programme and social media helped bust myths related to periods.” .
SOCIAL MEDIA A GAME CHANGER
Dr Amit Sarikwal who recently launched a campaign—‘Mahawari ab tootegi chuppi humaari’ under which he carried out a workshop at temples to bust period-related myths, said, “There is no reason why menstruating women cannot go to temples. We organised a workshop at a temple in Janakipuram where we not only spread awareness among the people but also distributed sanitary napkins.”