When I was volunteering as a teacher in a government school in Delhi, I decided to talk about periods to my small group of students who were then in fifth grade. Mostly girls, I asked them if they knew what periods meant. In turn, they all looked at each other and laughed.
For them, it was the childish nerve that acted when they heard the word ‘periods’, but I knew that immediate response of laughter and embarrassment was because I had asked something that was meant to be said in discretion.
We don’t openly talk about mensuration in India, and that is an established fact. Most of the young girls first hear about menstruation from those lousy advertisements showing water as a euphemism for blood. The discourse around menstrual health management in India is far behind in teaching girls about the right products and providing the necessary facilities.
In a recent survey conducted by Youth Ki Awaaz, it was found out that a majority preferred the use of ‘sanitary pads’ during their menses. While it is apparent that the respondents found sanitary pads as the safest option, we need to understand that the same is not the case in rural parts of India where having a sanitary napkin is a privilege.
Women In India Still Prefer Sanitary Napkins Over Other Menstrual Hygiene Products
To begin with, the awareness in India about silicon cups and tampons is minimal. I got to know about both of these things from an American YouTube channel. So, the awareness about those things can be limited to a certain type of urban India population.
Secondly, the availability of these products is scarce. Most of the local medical stores only stock up sanitary pads as a menstrual hygiene product. And most importantly, people are still delusional that a penetrative menstrual hygiene product may cause them to lose their virginity or break their hymen.
Siya Singh, an 18-year-old Delhi University student, says “the part I am scared of the most is how the cup can withhold the pressure of my uterus walls without causing any irritation or chafing.” At the same time, many women who have used it say that the cup is easily foldable and if rightly placed, can cause no irritation.
But the fact remains that the menstrual cups are expensive with a price ranging between ₹500-₹2000 and many women can’t afford them.
We Need Menstrual Waste Management Now More Than Ever
In the survey, it was also found that a large number of the respondents sealed and disposed of their sanitary pads in dustbins, whereas a few of them disposed of them without sealing.
While it is always beneficial to dispose of menstrual waste with a seal so that the primary garbage collectors don’t get infected by the trash, the problem of managing menstrual waste does not end here.
Our menstrual waste, after being carried out by civil authorities, is dumped along with the rest of the general waste in a dumping ground. Where it is segregated by the waste pickers, who separate biodegradable and non-biodegradable materials from each other. They don’t use face-masks, gloves or any protective gear and thus, are vulnerable to various microorganisms that thrive in the soiled pads. Bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus and pathogens that cause hepatitis and tetanus are present in the trash can cause severe health conditions.
Moreover, the material most sanitary pads are made from is mostly plastic, and the consequence is that it will be dumped in a landfill where it is buried and will stay there for at least 800 years. At times, the waste is also incinerated releasing tons of toxic pollutants like carcinogenic gases into the air.
To curb the problem of period waste, various organisations have suggested that a big red dot indicate menstrual waste for the benefit of waste workers who routinely handle such waste with bare hands, and thus expose themselves to the considerable risk of contracting infections.
Additionally, to sustain the environment from our menstrual waste, we need to stop using sanitary napkins which are made of synthetic material altogether. For us who can afford, we must collectively switch over to products like silicon cups which are biodegradable.
However, for the underprivileged sections, incorporating safe menstrual hygiene practices is still a challenge. This is something that we all have to fight together, and for that, we must educate and encourage those around us to switch to eco-friendly products.
The author is a part of the current batch of the #PeriodParGyan Writer’s Training Program