ऐसी है ये दुनिया

मर जायेंगे मगर उफ़ नहीं करेंगे बड़ी बड़ी ख्वाइशों का एलान कर देंगे, पर उस छोटी सी ज़रूरत को, ऐ साहिब उन वर्जनाओं के बोझ के तले दबा देंगे। ऐसी है ये दुनिया।

समाज के सिर मल देंगी सारा इल्ज़ाम पर खुद पर्दे के पीछे छिप जायेंगी, वो पांच दिन अपनाकर, जब बदलेगा ये समाज तब खुद ही अपना रुख बदलकर, पलट जायेंगी। ऐसी है ये दुनिया।

क्या करोगे इस शर्म का, इस झूठी इज़्ज़त का जब मौत और जिंदगी के तराज़ू में तुल रहे होंगे, जीवन भारी हुआ तो जी नहीं पाओगे ओर मौत भारी हुइ तो यह शर्म कहां ले जाओगे। बस, ऐसी ही है ये दुनिया l

The myths around menstruation are running in India since a long time. Restrictions on touching food articles, lack of permission to go to temples, being impure during periods and so on are few of all the myths related to periods. Not only men, but women also believe in these taboos and fear in raising their voice against this norm. Even in the 21st Century, it is very difficult to get access to the basic requirements of women like sanitary napkins, especially in rural India. The myths and taboos are so strong that women prefer risking their lives instead of maintaining proper hygiene during menstruation.

According to National Family Health Survey 2015-16, around 57% of the Indian women use sanitary napkins and around 62% women in the age group 15-24 years still rely on unhygienic methods like using cloth during periods.

In another survey conducted by WHO, around 36% women in rural India feel uncomfortable in buying sanitary napkins from chemist shops while around 43% do not have access to the napkins. Also, around 67% women had to borrow sanitary napkins from friends or relatives.

Though there is a significant increase in the use of sanitary napkins, Awareness campaigns are not enough to educate women and other people about the benefits of using sanitary napkins. The need of the hour is to make it a compulsion in their minds so that no other woman dies because of these menstrual unhygienic conditions.

References

Johri, A. D., 2017. It’s time to talk. Period, s.l.: The Indian Express.

Natarajan, S. & RS, N., 2017. Need for State-Level Efforts to Address the Sorry State of Menstrual Hygiene in India, s.l.: The Logical Indian.