Author: Roqaiya Fatma, Aligarh Muslim University
To The Point
The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan was launched in 2014, and it aims to make India clean and open-defecation-free by improving sanitation and public health and nutrition. While the Swaccha bharat campaign has taken decisive steps in building toilets and promoting cleanliness and all, it falls short in addressing menstrual hygiene for girls, which is a critical sanitation issue. Many girls lack access to proper facilities, affordable menstrual products like sanitary pads, and education, health issues, school dropouts, and compromised dignity.
Dr. BR Ambedkar said that “I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress the women have achieved” Every woman experiences menstruation on a regular basis, which is a biological event that negatively impacts the emotional and physical health of half of our nation’s population. Poor menstrual hygiene results in a plethora of fungal and bacterial infections of the reproductive and the urinary tract. In fact, 70% of the Reproductive Tract Infections (RTIs) in women are caused due to poor menstrual hygiene. Not only this, 1/3rds of the global cases of cervical cancer are in India, the major cause of which is poor menstrual hygiene.10% of Indian girls believe menstruation to be a disease since it affects their health adversely. Periods are still considered to be ‘unclean’ in Indian society, and over the years we have not been able to eradicate this presumption.
Abstract
Menstrual hygiene is the fundamental of public health and gender equality but, yet, it remains a neglected aspect of the Swachha Bharat Abhiyan. In India, we see insufficient sanitation infrastructure, cultural stigma, and economic barriers which prevent girls from managing menstruation safely. This article examines the importance of menstrual hygiene with the Swachh Bharat mission and highlights the lack of gender-sensitive facilities in schools, limited access to sanitary products, and the need for awareness among people. By analyzing relevant data and case studies, it advocates for integrating menstrual hygiene into the campaign to empower girls and achieve the vision of a clean India.
Use of legal jargon
India’s public policy framework governs the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, yet it violates several de jure rights guaranteed by the Indian Constitution by failing to address menstrual hygiene. The Supreme Court interpreted Article 21, which protects the right to life and personal liberty, to include the right to live with dignity, This right is violated when girls are denied access to sanitary facilities during their periods. Furthermore, Article 14 which ensures equality before the law
In addition, the de facto barring of girls from the school owing to poor sanitation facilities , which is frequently shown by high dropout rates from school.Swachh Bharat implementations frequently fail to meet the statutory requirement facilities that schools have separate restrooms for girls and mandatory requirement such as sanitary pads which is mentioned in Section 19 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (RTE Act). And If the state violates this clause,then it is accountable for failing to maintain educational equity since it has breached its obligation. The lack of disposal devices in Swachh Bharat restrooms also exposes a gap in the implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, which legally require local governments to handle menstrual waste. According to jurisprudence theory, the state must be use the affirmative action to accommodate the special requirements for girls, such as requiring menstrual hygiene facilities, in order to uphold the principle of substantive equality. A public interest lawsuit (PIL) could be filed to challenge the absence of the such Swachh Bharat measures for violating fundamental rights and constitutional provisions.Furthermore, the idea of
parens -patriae requires the state to the protect vulnerable populations, such as teenage girls, by making sure that lack of awareness about menstrual hygiene does not jeopardize their health and education.
The Proof
The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan 2014 has focused on the building toilets and promoting cleanliness all over in India ,but its approach to the sanitation remains incomplete without addressing the menstrual hygiene. A 2014 Dasra report found that 23% of girls in India drop out of school due to menstruation-related challenges and problems,such as the lack of private toilets and access to sanitary products. In the rural areas, where Swachh Bharat has targeted open to defecation, and many newly built toilets still lack running water or disposal bins, which making them unusable for menstrual hygiene. Cultural taboos further the intensify the issue, as menstruating girls are often excluded and denied access to sanitation facilities and menstrual Hygiene, Without targeted these intermediation, the campaign cannot fully achieve its goal of improving public health and education for all.
Case Laws
Kishanganj, Bihar (2018)
In the Kishanganj, A rural district of Bihar, one local NGO surveyed the adolescent girls in the vilages and found that 70% girls missed school during their periods due to the absence of the functional toilets and facilities. The Swachh Bharat schemes toilets in schools also lacked of water and privacy, which forcing girls to manage menstruation in the unhygienic conditions. This case highlights the need for the gender-sensitive infrastructure in the Swachh Bharat initiatives program.
Tamil Nadu’s Ujjwala Sanitary Napkin Scheme (2019)
Tamil Nadu has implement the Ujjwala Scheme to provide low-cost sanitary pads to rural girls and women .While successful in the increasing access, which the lack of disposal systems in schools led to improper waste management, and causing environmental concerns. This initiative shows the potential of integrating menstrual hygiene into Swachh Bharat but also underscores the need for a broad approach.
Rajasthan’s Menstrual Hygiene Awareness Program (2020)
In Rajasthan, state government and NGO’s partnership conducted the awareness camps in school to educate girls and boys about menstruation and health and challenges. The program reduced shame and defection around 15%, which is proving that awareness is as crucial as infrastructure. Swachh Bharat can adopt similar strategies to normalize menstruation and support girls’ in the education field.
Conclusion
The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan 2014 can not claim success without addressing the menstrual hygiene for all girls. The lack of proper facilities, affordable products, and awareness undermines the campaign’s goals of sanitation, public health and menstrual Hygiene. By incorporating gender-sensitive infrastructure, awareness campaigns, and accessible menstrual products into its the framework, Swachh Bharat can empower the girls, reduce school dropouts, and also can promote gender equality. A truly cleanliness India must ensure that the every girl can manage her periods with dignity and safety.
FAQS
What is menstrual hygiene in the context of Swachh Bharat?
Menstrual hygiene refers to the access to the sanitary products, clean and private sanitation facilities, and also education needed for girls to manage menstruation safely, which should be a keen focus of Swachh Bharat’s sanitation and clean india goals.
Why is menstrual hygiene a challenge for Swachh Bharat?
Swachh Bharat focuses on general sanitation but overlooks to the specific needs like menstrual hygiene facilities in the schools, affordable sanitary products, and awareness, which is leading to health and education challenges for all girls.
How does Swachh Bharat currently address menstrual hygiene?
Swachh Bharat builds the toilets and promotes cleanliness but does not target menstrual hygiene for girls, which resulting in gaps like the lack of water, disposal systems, and awareness campaigns for menstruation.
Are there any programs that address menstrual hygiene in India?
Yes,programs like the Ujjwala Sanitary Napkin Scheme and the Rajasthan’s awareness camps have made progress, but they need to be improving and integrated into Swachh Bharat for broader impact.
What reforms are needed to include menstrual hygiene in Swachh Bharat?
Swachh Bharat should be focus on the building gender-sensitive toilets, ensuring the access to the affordable sanitary products, conducting awareness campaigns, and implementing menstrual waste management systems to support to the girls effectively.
