Sanitary pads still a Taboo in Society – Magsaysay award winner Anshu Gupta
Udupi: Many women still use cloth or other things instead of Sanitary Napkins and there is a sense of Taboo in regard to Sanitary pads in the society. Sanitary pads are a medical necessity, if women use sanitary pads properly, they could avoid many kinds of diseases said Anshu Gupta, Ramon Magsaysay award winner and founder of NGO ‘Goonj’
He was addressing the media persons at the Bharathiya Vikas Trust on Saturday, August 5. In India, old clothes are generally donated to people. But instead of donating anything, we at ‘Goonj’ give clothes or whatever the people need as payment for the developmental work they do for their area. Like a pond is needed in a village, the villagers dig the pond and we give those clothes or other things as their wages” he explained.
We take care of the self-respect of the villagers. There are no beggars in villages. Begging and beggars become an issue in cities. We are currently working on the scarce water issue affecting many areas. Several villages in the country have no water and others are flooded. Actually, we do not have a water problem but the problem is of water management.
Goonj is dependent on people. “Goonj is a movement, and we are in the phase of changing minds. Goonj undertakes disaster relief, humanitarian aid and community development in 22 states across India. The association recycles discarded clothes and household goods into useful products for the poor.
Today we are dealing with about 2000 tonnes of clothing material every year and have an annual budget of Rs 10 crore which includes disaster relief. “It’s not just food and shelter that is a concern for the poor but proper clothing and sanitary pads for women is a growing problem which the policy makers, the opinion makers and the government must understand. We will continue our struggle for this cause, he added.
Millions of women around the globe are actually using things like sand, ash, jute bags, rugs, rags, old dry grass, rice husk and also cow dung when they menstruate. These women are considered as unclean when they have their periods. Studies have revealed that unhygienic conditions during a woman’s period are one of the major causes of cervical cancer among rural women. More women in India die of cervical cancer than in any other country, in a conservative society, menstrual hygiene is a subject of taboo.
Stigma, patriarchy and other social barriers prevent vital hygiene and healthcare to millions of women. Goonj is trying to make the change – in its own small way.
Cloth for Work is the greatest potential for social change. However, although the project has motivational value, we haven’t been as successful with School to School programme imitated by our Concern. School to School programme rewards children according to their behavioural management which includes hygiene, manners and antiquates. Traditionally, children have been the biggest victims of charity. We want to make sure contributed material becomes a tool for good education like it has for good roads and bridges.
Another Magsaysay awardee Dr Harish Hande was also present.