There are many underlying issues in our society to work on. In recent times, a lot of much-needed discussions and activities around menstrual hygiene have come up, people have started talking more openly about the topic and have also become more sensitized towards it.
Unexpected Periods While Travelling Was A Horrible Experience For Me
Many menstruating people are switching to eco-friendly menstrual hygiene products due to increased awareness towards menstrual cups, reusable sanitary pads, biodegradable pads, etc. which not only reduces the effects on the environment but is also comfortable during the period days and reduces the long term effects of inorganic menstrual products.
But what about the time when we are travelling and we get unexpected periods, before or after the date? Here, I’m sharing a similar incident that I experienced.
It is about a time when I was travelling from my hometown Sivasagar, took a train from Guwahati to Delhi, which was a 2 days journey. On the second day of the journey, I realized that I’m a week early on my menstrual cycle and I was not prepared for it, hence I did not carry any sanitary pads. I approached the coach attendant with whom I was initially hesitant to share my problem, when I shared my problem he too was hesitant in replying first, but then he said that there is no availability of sanitary pads on the train and said that I may check in any of the shops in the upcoming station.
The situation was becoming uncomfortable for me as the time passed, on the next station I hopped out of the train to enquire for any availability of sanitary pads in any of the stalls but couldn’t find them, I then enquired with the railway staff but failed in that too.
After getting disappointed by the health facilities available in the Indian railways, I then thought of approaching women in my coach itself. But I couldn’t get any help from them also. After failing in all the available options, I finally I was forced to use my pair of handkerchiefs to absorb the blood, which was also uncomfortable but better than the earlier situation. Until I reached Delhi, I had to remain still so that the cloth does not get misplaced.
Even after knowing about menstrual hygiene, I was unable to help myself. Does this situation raise the question of the accessibility of menstrual hygiene products in public places and public transport?
I Went Online To See If Anyone Had Experienced The Same Issue
This was a horrible experience but gave me the learning that I could never forget in my entire life. I recently checked online for any development and sensitization of Indian railways towards the issue of menstrual hygiene and got to know that the Indian railways and some other private partners have planned several projects for the same but didn’t come across any such myself.
While searching about the related issue, and wondering if someone had experienced the same, I came across a similar incident that happened with a woman. She tweeted to the Indian railway for providing sanitary pads in trains and she was badly trolled by people including women.
It’s such a shame if a woman herself can’t understand the situation and passes such a loose comment.
“What do you want @RailwaySeva to sell next? Condoms, in case you meet someone on the train and you feel the urge? Whatever happened to traveling well prepared?”, was one such tweet.
Findings:
Kerala became the first state to installed sanitary napkin vending machines in over 60 places and the Bhopal junction railway station is the first station to provide low-cost sanitary napkins to women.
Sanitary pad vending machine have been installed at the following railway station:
- MAHARASHTRA RAILWAY STATION
- BHUBANESWAR RAILWAY STATION
- DELHI JUNCTION AND HAZRAT NIZAMUDDIN RAILWAY STATION
- PUNE RAILWAY STATION
- BHOPAL RAILWAY STATION
Apart from these in 36 trains, the availability of sanitary napkins was implemented by Indian railways.
Indian railways have done an appreciable work and it needs to be implemented in every train, along with its application in physical form, awareness about such issues or systems is also important.
Lastly, not everyone who identifies as women menstruate, but there are many transgender men and non-binary people who menstruate and do not identify themselves as women, which makes menstruation not a women’s issue but a human issue. So, while this is still a barrier for women to meet the expectations, how about the non-binary community? If our society can troll a woman for asking for a sanitary napkin then can you even imagine if the same problem arises with non-binary people?
I hope that in the near future there are more discussions around gender-neutral menstruation topics and there is even more accessibility to menstrual hygiene products in public places and public transport.