Menstrual health and dignity --aligning policy with rights in India
On the Menstrual Hygiene Day (May 28), campaigns and organisations are amplifying efforts to advocate even more vociferously for the adequate redressal of menstrual health challenges. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of India has asked the Central Government to frame a model policy on menstrual leave. This is a watershed moment for addressing menstrual health as a fundamental human right rather than 'women's personal issue.' The order comes in light of the millions of menstruators in the country who still face discrimination, manage menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) with inadequate infrastructure and encounter stigma that undermines the constitutional rights.
By the Constitution of India, we, as citizens, irrespective of whether an individual is a person with uterus or not, are guaranteed that the State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds including sex (Article 15), Right to Life and Personal Liberty which includes Right to Dignity (Article 21) is also envisaged in the Constitution along with the Right to Education (Article 21 A)- all of which implicitly support menstrual health and hygiene(MHH) rights. However, there are myriads of systemic inequities, including social and cultural taboos and stigma, that undermine these principles.
India is a signatory to multiple international human rights frameworks that should protect menstrual rights -- the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) which establishes the right to dignity (Article 1), health (Article 25) and education (Article 26), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which India has committed to achieving by 2030.Yet, menstrual health remains inadequately addressed because there is a stark gap between the Constitutional Rights as well as international obligations India is committed to upholdvis-à-vis lived realities of menstruators on the ground.
Reflecting on my campaigning journey of over four years since launching the menstrual awareness and equity campaign, Alharh, in Bhagalpur, Bihar in December 2019, I have seen our humble youth-led initiative steadily grow to reach nearly 4000 people. Yet, even today, the voices from the ground remain dishearteningly similar: a tale of shame and stigma that represents clear violations of fundamental rights.
During one of our community events, 'KhullamKhulla Baat Karenge', silence spoke louder than those who actually spoke. Fourteen-year-old Khushi confessed that she kept mum at the event because she was too shy to speak about periods in public. However, she listened. Weeks later, she volunteered at the campaign, mentioning: 'Since that day, I feel compelled to notice the discrimination we face, even within our own homes simply because we menstruate.' Inspired to break taboos within her own home, she deliberately entered her kitchen, a space she was not 'allowed' to enter during her menstrual days and touched the pickle. This small but significant act empowered her tremendously. Nervous yet determined, she also sent pictures of her holding sanitary pads as an attempt to normalize the stigmatized and the unspeakable. This was no small change.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
HC orders closure of Tasmac shop causing nuisance to public
Madurai: It is contradictory for a welfare govt to establish more hospitals on the one hand and simultaneously establish Tasmac shops on the other hand, observed Madras high court while directing the authorities to close a Tasmac shop situated in Dindigul district. The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by K Kannan. The petitioner stated that a Tasmac shop on Trichy Road in Dindigul, is causing nuisance to the public, especially children using the road to go to schools. Hence, the petitioner moved court seeking to immediately close the shop. In the counter, the Dindigul district Tasmac manager submitted that the petitioner's claim, is incorrect. The shop is located within the corporation limits, where the prohibited distance is 50m as per Rule 8 of Tamil Nadu Liquor Retail Vending (in Shops and Bars) Rules, 2003. However, since the shop is situated in a commercial area, the proviso to Rule 8 of the Rules states that the distance restriction shall not apply. A division bench of justice S M Subramaniam and justice A D Maria Clete observed that mere adherence to the distance criterion is insufficient when certain mitigating circumstances are raised by an aggrieved citizen. Undoubtedly, a Tasmac shop might cause nuisance to the road users in the locality, particularly to the children during school hours. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo It is the duty of the state to ensure that no such nuisance is caused to the citizens and road users. The judges observed that Article 47 of the Constitution directs that the state shall regard the raising of the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health as among its primary duties. "Constitutional philosophy and the directive principles insist that a welfare govt should strive wholeheartedly to enforce prohibition, rather than establish more Tasmac shops which adversely affect public health. It is contradictory for a welfare govt to establish more hospitals on the one hand and simultaneously establish Tasmac shops on the other. This is not in consonance with Constitutional ethos. When the right to health is a fundamental right, the state must ensure that the prohibition is slowly implemented in a phased manner to reduce harm to public health," the judges observed. The judges observed that in the present case, the road is used by the children to reach their school and it serves as a direct pathway. Consequently, the Tasmac shop would undoubtedly cause public nuisance to the road users and school children. "The closure of one Tasmac shop would not cause any prejudice but would rather benefit the public at large," the judges observed and directed the authorities to close the shop within two weeks.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Cong meets governor, urges special assembly session
Patna: An 11-member delegation of the Congress, headed by state party president Rajesh Kumar, met governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Wednesday and urged him to convene a special session of the Bihar assembly over the alleged deterioration in the state's law and order situation, citing the recent rape and murder of a dalit girl from Muzaffarpur. "You are requested to invoke Article 175 of the Constitution in light of the deteriorating law and order and misgovernance in Bihar, and convene both houses to deliver a strong message," the Congress delegation demanded through their memorandum submitted to the governor. The Congress delegation also demanded a high-level probe into the incident to punish the guilty, besides providing justice and compensation to the victim's family. They also sought concrete and effective steps to prevent injustices against the dalit community and to ensure their social, economic, and security-related rights. The memorandum stated that currently, 6,799 crimes against SC-ST communities occur annually in Bihar, accounting for 13.16% of the country's total crimes. "The conviction rate for these crimes is only 8.6%, meaning nearly 90% of offenders go unpunished," it alleged. Citing the recent report of the Auditor General of India, the memorandum further raised serious concerns about Bihar's healthcare services and urged the governor to intervene in the matter. Later, Congress workers protested outside the residence of the health minister, Mangal Pandey, over the issue. A delegation of Jan Suraaj, led by its state president Manoj Bharti, also met the governor and handed over a memorandum.
The Hindu
6 hours ago
- The Hindu
How healthy are India's State legislatures?
India is a union of states — a structure enshrined in the Constitution that gives States a central role in legislating critical areas like health, agriculture, and public order. But how well are India's State Assemblies functioning? A new report by PRS Legislative Research that examines how 31 State Assemblies performed in 2024 has found that States passed over 500 Bills, yet most Assemblies met for just 20 days and spent around 100 hours in session. Many laws were cleared on the very day they were introduced, and States issued 100 ordinances in total. What does this say about legislative scrutiny, accountability, and the democratic process at the state level? Guest: Niranjana S Menon, a Senior Analyst at PRS Legislative Research. Host: Nivedita V. Edited by Jude Francis Weston For more In Focus episodes:
