Release of a report on the management of menstrual hygiene in India

According to a thorough research on menstrual hygiene management in India issued on Monday by the non-governmental organization Sulabh International, girls are “afraid” to use school restrooms during their periods because of missing doors, poor cleanliness, a shortage of water, and soap. The research claims that schoolgirls’ dread causes them to skip class throughout their menstrual cycle.

According to Sulabh International’s research, “Our data indicates that girls are fearful of using school toilets during menstruation owing to lack of water, soap, sanitation, missing doors and taps, and even missing dustbins.”

It said, “This provokes absenteeism from schools during periods, which implies that a menstruating girl is either unable to attend classes or goes half-hearted, feeling ill-at-ease, for up to 60 days in a school year.” “Our results show that lack of menstrual hygiene management facilities is a stronger deterrent for girls to skip school than the distance from home to school,” the report said.

The story went on to say that the schoolgirls’ decision to remain at home throughout their menstrual cycle is a “forced choice.”

“Schoolgirls feel it safer to remain at home if they do not get regular menstrual hygiene supplies, such as pads. The survey said that adolescent girls are forced to choose between the miserable lack of menstrual hygiene management facilities at schools and the security, privacy, and safety of their homes when it comes to managing their periods.

The research, which was carried out in 14 districts in seven Indian states—Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu—was reported by the NGO.

In the furthest regions of the nation, there were 84 villages and 22 blocks with a total of 4,839 women and girls from a variety of ethnic groups.

The research recommended that employers offer restrooms with running water, washing spaces, and bathing cubicles in addition to communal restrooms.