Something normal…
Menstruation is the process in a woman of discharging blood and other materials from the lining of the uterus at intervals of about one lunar month from puberty until menopause, except during pregnancy. It is a process that every healthy human female must go through. However, adolescent girls are unable to attend school and complete their education during their menstrual periods and girls feel embarrassed to discuss such a topic.
There is a lack of awareness regarding menstruation. Although, the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation has established a set of guidelines to develop a framework for easy access to information regarding menstrual products and generate familial and community awareness, 90% of women are unaware concerning the importance of sanitary napkins (UNICEF). 87% of women use old rags and cloth in place of sanitary napkins. These substitutes are often unhygienic and harmful to a girl's reproductive system. Further more, they are also ineffective at preventing leakage.
Menstruation is a source of embarrassment and humiliation for many adolescent girls. They maybe mocked and humiliated if it is discovered that they are menstruating at the time. Thus, they are less likely to attend school. Schools located in disenfranchised communities often lack the funding to provide washrooms and sanitary facilities, further worsening the problem. The picture on the right is a depiction of an outdoor school run entirely by volunteers in Gurugram, India. However, students do not have access to facilities. Girls have to often rush home to answer nature's call.
In fact, inconvenience due to periods is considered one of the major causes of school absenteeism among young girls and their eventual drop out. According to the FSG the percentage of out-of-school boys and girls in the age group of 6–10 years was 5.51 per cent and 6.87 per cent respectively; however, for the adolescent age group of 11–13 years, the percentage of out-of-school children was much higher among girls (10.03 per cent) than boys (6.46 per cent).
Fortunately, the importance of menstrual hygiene has been recognized. Government agencies and non profit organizations have launched a platform to educate girls about menstruation. Movies and websites such as Padman and Menstropedia are trying to dispel the myth and secrecy surrounding menstruation in popular culture. Cheaper and hygienic alternatives to expensive sanitary napkins have also been developed.
In Southern Rajasthan, organizations such as Jatan Sansthan are mobilizing local women to produce and use affordable, reusable sanitary pads. These types of initiatives can provide sustainable solutions and stimulate the local economy by creating jobs for women.
Click to learn more about the different organization that are working to help young girls in India progress despite the difficulties they face due to menstruation.
https://www.bustle.com/articles/89136-6-indian-womens-rights-organizations-that-are-bravely-fighting-for-change
https://www.planindia.org/about-plan-india
