#CutTheShame Of Periods And Empower Women In Rural India Today

Together, We Can Break The Silence Around Period Taboo And Empower Women In India

Trying to hide a stained uniform skirt from the rest of the class, hiding a pad from a male

co-worker, being told not to enter a temple or even the kitchen because it's ‘that time of the month’ - these are just some of the instances of period taboo that young girls and women face every single day in India.

Unfortunately this is the reality for most women and this stays with them their entire lives. Something as natural and normal as that of periods has shackled their lives with not just physical pain but shame and embarrassment. If the condition is like this in urban areas, you can well imagine the condition in rural areas of the country.

Countless Women Are Suffering Due To Period Poverty 

It should not be a surprise for us to know that about 23 percent of young girls drop out of school when they hit puberty. As per the data provided by the Ministry Of Health, 36% women and girls use sanitary napkins, 48% girls have no prior knowledge of menstruation before their first period, 84% of women had restricted or no access to menstrual products and adopted risky unsanitary methods during the lockdown and 70% of menstruating mothers consider mensuration as dirty

This critically undermines their potential as individuals and future workers. This calls for normalising menstruation by considering quantitative attributes such as behaviour, infrastructure, politics and perception.

TOI and Donatekart Have Come Together To Break The Silence About Periods

Menstruation is a rarely discussed topic in homes and schools in India. Poor menstrual health can lead to cervical rare condition, reproductive and urinary infections, Hepatitis B, and yeast infections. Times of India along with Donatekart plans to start a campaign around period education and affirmative action to change mindsets and practices.  

Cut the Shame, their new campaign, hopes to put an end to period shaming. Over the next 60 days, TOI will take you on a journey that will advocate a culture of equality and justice for all women, and even sensitize men towards the issue. Through multiple offerings, events and partnerships they hope to raise awareness about menstrual health, period poverty and break the silence around menstrual shame.

You Can Help #CutTheShame And Empower Thousands Of Women

Launched on May 28, World Menstrual Hygiene Day, Cut the Shame will offer expert-backed data, information and advice, centering the lived experiences of Indian women. This is a journey of empathy, kindness and care, and also one that inspires each of us to reject period taboos and misinformation and speak up against the shaming of women. Powerful voices of experts and activists who have worked relentlessly, empowering and emancipating women from the shackles of period shame will be part of the conversation.  

Together help raise awareness about menstrual health and give girls and women in rural India access to period products.

Beneficiary NGOs:

1: Praveenlath Sansthan: Praveenlatha Sansthan is a not for profit organisation which works towards empowering women and girls of the marginalised and poor community. Their initiative Spotless Dame aims to provide every women in Rajasthan a hygienic menstrual cycle with their cotton reusable sanitary napkin. Location: Distribution will happen at rural places in Rajasthan

2: YUG Foundation: YUG Foundation Pune is a NGO, working for the people of pune by Punekars for Punekars. They have been actively involved in providing a healthy and hygienic periods for women and adolescent girls , and breaking the taboo around the same.
Location: Distribution will happen at rural places in Maharashtra