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Addressing the stigma around menstruation in India - Period Poverty


Introduction
The lack of access to feminine hygiene products in both rural and urban areas in India have led millions of women to suffer from pain and menstrual related diseases and infections.This social inequality against women has been caused due to the high tax on sanitary products and the lack of proper education and awareness about menstruation.
History
Sanitary essentials have been available since the Ancient Egyptians that used tampons made of spotted papyrus and the Ancient Greeks that made tampons from bits of wood with lint wrapped around it. They have always been recreated some way or the other before we had modern day pads and tampons. As menstruation is a natural occurrence that happens to every woman after they reach puberty, the access to these essentials has never been challenged in urbanized areas such as Scotland, which is the first country to ever supply free pads and tampons. 
However, millions of women still face this issue in many countries such as India. It can be seen that the ideology of women being “unclean” or the topic of menstruation being “taboo” has led to a stigma around the natural process.  According to the World Health Organization that conducted a survey in over 35 cities all over India which included, Chennai, Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai etc.. In the 2017 survey. It was revealed that around “43% of women have no access to sanitary essentials”.
The Opinions
Regardless of a handful of Corporate brands and Intergovernmental Organizations condemning India for its attitude towards menstruation there are still many that are against the idea of eradication of Period Poverty. 
According to the cultural society in India there are many who are uncomfortable at the idea of menstruation. This society does not have access to the correct information which has led to millions of women in rural and urban areas to have no access to sanitary pads. These cultural norms have caused a shameful aura surrounding menstruation, a study conducted by the Tamil Nadu Urban Sanitation Support Programme in 2018 had revealed that many young girls were unprepared and in shock when they had first started menstruating due to lack of education. Furthermore, a study taken in 2012 by the United Nations Population Fund reported that 60% of women were diagnosed with common reproductive tract infections due to poor menstrual hygiene practises. These issues have led to many women being oppressed and not being able to have access to their rights. 
However, the perspective from corporate brands such as Niine Sanitary Napkins. This company has been an integral part in distributing free sanitary napkins and running seminars and classes on menstruation hygiene. Intergovernmental governmental organizations such as The United Nations Menstrual Health Management have started many campaigns in order to eradicate period poverty by working closely with Indian governments. 
The conclusion
Due to the popular movie ‘PadMan’ Indian government has finally taken a stance for the women that are suffering due to lack of access to sanitary essentials by eliminating the controversial tax on sanitary pads. However, the cultural shame and lack of appropriate sanitation is still a major threat to the rural villages in India that have no support. By understanding and supporting one another we must take a stand to the stigmatization of menstruation in India in order to combat the situation effectively.

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