Though our country has developed in many ways, the mind-set of our society still remains the same. Various taboos and socio-cultural restrictions still cloud menstruation and menstrual practices. Which results in many adolescent girls as well as women being ignorant about the scientific facts and healthy hygienic practices. Still around 85 % of our nation’s rural population live in households that do not have a toilet facility. With poor or no sanitation, many women face adverse health outcomes which could be hazardous to life too. There are many challenges that the women of today face, with regards to sanitary health.

Let us understand the 4 challenges women face with sanitary health in India:

1. Gender Inequality

From years, our society has been keeping men superior to women. Men have been always considered as the bread earners and the head of the family. Whereas, women no matter how much they contribute in the family, they are still considered as dependents and given the duty of taking care of the household.

There has always been inequality between the status of a woman and a man. Due to which, women find it difficult to find economic independence. With insufficient income, women have been compromising on their needs and requirements, especially when it comes to sanitary products. This makes them face various health hazards too.

2. Economic Division Amongst Women

One of the major concerns, is the economic division between women themselves. Women from the elite class have the liberty of getting the best quality sanitary products delivered at their doorsteps. On the other hand, the women from the lower class struggle hard, to make ends meet especially when it comes to basic sanitation products.

Still majority of rural women use cloth for feminine hygiene. Washing and drying of reusable products from time to time, is again a challenge for women, especially in areas that face water shortage. Due to this, they are exposed to reproductive tract infections. Lack of private facilities and cultural taboos, also add to the challenges faced by women during menstruation.

3. Insufficient supply of sanitary products

Period poverty is mostly experienced among the rural women. It is very unfortunate that many women cannot afford menstrual hygiene products. They save money to fulfil their basic needs of food and education. Governments of different states have started free distribution of sanitary pads to many rural areas. But still there are many who are not benefited with the same.

Secondly, proper waste management of sanitary pads is still not in effect. Though government has started Municipal Solid Waste Management and Handling Rules, yet people are still to learn separation of dry and wet waste. Most of the sanitary waste end up in landfills or sewage systems. Hence, proper awareness and sufficient supply of sanitary products, still remains a challenge.

4. Effect of Pandemic

Most of the schools had started providing free sanitary pads to girl students. But ever since the COVID-19 pandemic started, all schools were shut down. Students were dependent on schools for sanitary products, but due to the pandemic, they were forced to use cloth again. There were many organizations who came forward and distributed, free sanitary pads in most of the slum areas. But due to safety protocols as well as constrain in the production of sanitary napkins during the lockdown, made it difficult for the organizations to continue the same.

Many states have restrictions on the movement of vehicles due to which transportation of sanitary products has become a challenge. Elite class women can afford to buy expensive ones and also order them online. But those staying in slums and rural areas, are still struggling to overcome this challenge.

Though the pandemic came recently, but millions of girls and women have been facing various challenges with regards to sanitary health from many years. It is the government’s duty to make the menstrual health of women a priority. Also mobilizing local women to produce and use affordable and reusable sanitary pads is a great option.

Community awareness campaigns for men and women both, can help break down the taboos about menstruation. Thus, bringing change in the lives of many women.

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