'Need to break culture of silence around menstruation'
Kolkata May 29: There is a need to break the culture of silence around menstruation as the start of the cycle actually empowers women as they know they now have the power to procreate, speakers said at a awareness campaign here on Monday.
The campaign 'Let us talk about Periods', organised by the UNICEF on the occasion of World Menstrual Hygiene Day, brought together bureaucrats, women's rights activists and experts in a bid to sensitize women as well as men about the natural process considered a taboo in our country.
"It is usually termed a women's issue and male members of the family, of the community, even male members of the administration. they usually don't talk about this subject. But until and unless it is on an even platform where both male and female members can talk openly on these issues probably the culture of silence will never be broken," said Dibyendu Sarkar, Additional Secretary, Department of Panchayat and rural development.
There is a culture of silence on this particular issue even among the women. People usually feel shy about the positive aspects of periods as well the complications arising out of periods. This results in different unhygienic practices, contaminations and infections.
"UNICEF recognises that menstrual hygiene is fundamental to the dignity and well-being of women and girls and an important part of the basic hygiene, sanitation, and reproductive health services to which every woman and girl has a right, said Chief of UNICEF Office for West Bengal Mohammad Mohiuddin,.
There are several myths in our society surrounding periods. It is a very common practice to link periods with being unwell, but it is a normal biological process.
"Menstruation is not a disease. Even I was told that if you have periods when you are in school and you are not prepared for it, tell your teacher that 'shorir-khaarap hoyeche'(I am unwell). But it is not, it is like any other day, except some women might feel uncomfortable," said Ananya Chakraborti, West Bengal Commission for protection of Child Rights.
According to her, menstruation empowers a woman.
"When we start to menstruate we are empowered. We know that we have the power in us to procreate, we are now women and we know our full worth and that is what needs to be celebrated," added Chakraborti.
Till date a woman cannot buy a packet of sanitary napkin from a chemist's shop comfortably or say has to speak a little low and the packet is wrapped with paper. If a girl says it out loud she will attract undue attention so mostly they prefer to wait.
"Why should I wait half an hour in the pharmacy making sure I don't unruffle the feathers of whoever comes in the pharmacy and make sure I get my privacy which is not even required. This is something that all girls go through most of their lives, said Choten Lama, IAS, Secretary Panchayat and Rural Development Department.
"The taboos on menstruation limits a nation as a whole, you are just pulling back an entire gender by saying that during these five days society stops you and approves of not contributing positively fully of what you can," she added.
The discussion on World Menstrual Hygiene Day witnessed many male participants. A young boy,Sobhan Mukherjee, Kolkata's very own 'Padman' was present. He has been installing indigenous sanitary pad-dispensing carton boxes in public toilets across the city to help the women during periods.
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Meerut youth allegedly assaulted, family claims forced chanting of Jai Shri Ram slogans
Meerut :A young man from Sofipur village, Meerut, was reportedly assaulted, stripped, and coerced to chant religious slogans, according to allegations made by his family on Monday. The incident occurred on Saturday evening as the victim, Gulfam, was returning home from practice at a private shooting range in Mangal Pandey Nagar, said his father, Aftab.
Aftab claimed that Gulfam was intercepted by three individuals who took him to Victoria Park. There, the assailants allegedly beat him, stripped him, and demanded that he chant "Jai Shri Ram." Gulfam’s family also alleged that the attackers stole his mobile phone and left him unconscious at the scene.
However, local police have rejected the claims of stripping and forced chanting, suggesting that the incident appears to be linked to personal enmity. "There is no mention of any forced chanting in the FIR. It seems to be a case of enmity between local youths," stated Mahavir Singh, Station House Officer (SHO) of Civil Lines Police Station.
Based on Aftab’s complaint, an FIR was filed under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including 351(2) for criminal intimidation, 352 for intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of peace, and 324 for mischief. Civil Lines Circle Officer, Abhishek Tiwari, confirmed that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the suspects involved.
Gulfam, who is preparing for a national shooting competition, is currently undergoing medical treatment at a private hospital. His family continues to maintain that the attack was religiously motivated, though the authorities have yet to substantiate these specific claims.
