MENSTRUATION : Issues in India

Unfortunate Incident

In February 2020, 66 girls of Shree Sahjanand Girls Institute (SSGI) in Bhuj Town of Gujarat were made to undress, by the college and hostel authorities, to check if they were menstruating. Two others who said that they were menstruating, were not stripped.
After the initial probe, Darshana Dholakia, in-charge vice-chancellor of the university to which the college is affiliated, had justified the action, saying the girls were checked because the hostel has a rule that girls on their menstrual cycle are not supposed to take meals with other inmates.

Analysis of the issueUnfortunate Incident

Form of Untouchability: It has been argued that treating menstruating women differently amounts to a practice of untouchability.
Violation of Fundamental Rights: The practice which is being followed and encouraged of exclusion of women on the basis of their menstrual status is violative of human, legal and fundamental rights of women, more particularly, those as enshrined under Articles 14, 15, 17, 19, and 21 respectively of the Constitution.
Stigmatization of Menstruation: Menstruation has been stigmatized in our society. This stigma has built up due to the traditional beliefs in the impurity of menstruating women and our unwillingness to discuss it normally

Patriarchal beliefs: The underlying basis for this myth is also the cultural beliefs of impurity associated with menstruation and that it is believed that menstruating women are unhygienic and unclean and hence the food they prepare or handle can get contaminated.
Impact on Health: Such taboos about menstruation present in many societies impact girls’ and women’s emotional state, mentality and lifestyle, and most importantly, health. 88% of women in India sometimes resort to using ashes, newspapers, dried leaves, and husk sand to aid absorption. Poor protection and inadequate washing facilities may increase susceptibility to infection.

Lacks Awareness and Public debate: Young girls often grow up with limited knowledge of menstruation because their mothers and other women shy away from discussing the issues with them.

The Court proposed to issue the following directions-

Prohibit social exclusion of women on the basis of their menstrual status at all places, be it private or public, religious or educational
The State Government should spread awareness among its citizens regarding the social exclusion of women on the basis of their menstrual status through various mediums
Sensitization of health workers, ASHA, and Anganwadi Workers regarding menstruation biology must also be done so that they can further disseminate this knowledge in the community and mobilize social support against busting menstruation-related myths.
The State Government should hold campaigns, drives, involve NGOs and other private organizations to spread such awareness;
The State Government should prohibit all educational institutions, hostels, and living spaces for women-studying working and others, private or public, by whatever name called, from following social exclusion of women on the basis of their menstrual status in any manner.

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