Context
On World Menstrual Hygiene Day which is celebrated annually on 28 May, a recent report highlights menstrual hygiene in Indian Prisons.
Background of Menstrual Hygiene in India
- Progress in Menstrual Hygiene: India has seen notable advancements in menstrual hygiene management. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS 2019-2020), approximately 80% of adolescent girls aged 15-24 now utilize safe menstrual products.
- Disparity in Menstrual Hygiene in Indian Prisons: Despite progress in urban regions and specific demographics, women in Indian prisons continue to face neglect.
- In a societal context where basic rights for prisoners are often denied, female inmates experience additional challenges due to entrenched biases that question women’s capacity to commit crimes.
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Relation of Human Rights and Menstruation:
- Right to health: Women and girls may experience negative health consequences when they lack the supplies and facilities to manage their menstrual health.
- Right to education: Lack of a safe place or ability to manage menstrual hygiene as well as lack of medication to treat menstruation-related pain can all contribute to higher rates of school absenteeism and poor educational outcome
- Right to work: Poor access to safe means of managing menstrual hygiene and lack of medication to treat menstruation-related disorders or pain also limit job opportunities for women and girls.
- Right to non-discrimination and gender equality : Stigmas and norms related to menstruation can reinforce discriminatory practices.
- Right to water and sanitation: Water and sanitation facilities, such as bathing facilities, that are private, safe and culturally acceptable, along with a sufficient, safe and affordable water supply are basic prerequisites for managing menstrual health management.
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Status of Menstrual Hygiene in Indian Prisons
- Menstrual Hygiene in Indian Prisons: In Indian prisons, there are 23,772 women, with 77% falling within the reproductive age group and likely to menstruate regularly.
- Challenges in Providing Adequate Facilities: Despite the recommendations outlined in the 2016 Model Prison Manual, numerous states have failed to furnish adequate water and restroom facilities for female inmates.
- Overcrowding and substandard conditions further exacerbate the difficulty for women in accessing essential items such as water, sanitary napkins, detergent, and soap during menstruation.
- Conditions of Prisons: In a Maharashtra prison, a study conducted in 2023 uncovered inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities, compelling women to store water and utilize limited toilets collectively.
- Consequently, this scenario resulted in increased occurrences of urinary infections and challenges in upholding menstrual hygiene.
- Inadequate Sanitary Napkins: Prisons often depend on NGOs for donations of sanitary napkins, which can sometimes lead to the distribution of inferior products.
- In one instance, each woman received only one set of reusable napkins, which proved impractical due to limited access to water and detergent.
- SABLA Scheme: The SABLA program, initiated by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, addresses nutrition, health, hygiene, and reproductive and sexual health, connecting them with rural mother and child care centers.
- National Rural Livelihood Mission:The National Rural Livelihood Mission, under the Ministry of Rural Development, aids self-help groups and small-scale manufacturers in producing sanitary pads.
- National Guidelines for Menstrual Hygiene Management: Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan released the National Guidelines on Menstrual Hygiene Management in 2015.
- They encompass various aspects such as awareness-raising, behavior change, demand generation for hygiene products, capacity building for frontline workers, stakeholder sensitization, convergence efforts for effective interventions, and the establishment of WASH facilities with safe disposal options.
- Suvidha Sanitary Napkins : Jan Aushadhi Suvidha Sanitary Napkins are accessible at Jan Aushadhi Kendras across India at a subsidized rate of Rs. 1/- per pad.It is an initiative under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).
Way Forward
- Ensuring Menstrual Hygiene Standards in Prisons: The Indian government must enforce basic menstrual hygiene standards for women in prisons.
- Immediate action is needed to address the inconsistent implementation of the Model Prison Manual 2016, ensuring all states adhere to its recommendations.
- Public Health Priority: Addressing menstrual hygiene in prisons should be viewed as a public health priority and a crucial step in combating ‘period poverty.’
- Collaborative Strategy: Prison administrators and public health authorities must work together to create a comprehensive plan to ensure incarcerated women have access to adequate menstrual hygiene products and facilities, prioritizing their health and dignity.
- Further research is necessary to understand the current state of menstrual hygiene in prisons.
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May 28, 2024