Over 90% women skip consultation on menstruation-related issues over lack of female doctors: Report
Mumbai: A new research report has highlighted the significant challenges women face when it comes to menstruation-related health care, with over 90 percent of women avoiding consultations due to a shortage of female doctors.
The report, titled 'Combating The Silence From Menarche To Menopause,' was launched on Friday by the Sulabh Sanitation Mission Foundation (SSMF) in Mumbai. According to the report, as cited by The Hindu, a staggering 91.7 percent of older women skip seeking medical advice for menstruation-related concerns, mainly because of the lack of women doctors.
This lack of access to proper healthcare extends beyond consultations, as the study also found that girls are reluctant to use school restrooms during menstruation due to unhygienic conditions. Many school restrooms are without basic necessities such as water, soap, or even doors, which deters girls from using these facilities.
The revealed revealed that the poor state of menstrual hygiene management in schools force girls to miss school during their menstrual cycle, with some missing up to 60 days annually.
“We want a holistic approach to managing menstrual hygiene. It is a circle, missing schools lead to dropouts, then forces marriage and further restricts them from participating in the economy,” Nirja Bhatnagar, National Director of Program and Advocacy at Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, was quoted as saying by The Hindu.
The study focused on menstruating women in 14 districts across India, including Maharashtra, where researchers studied the conditions in Beed and Dharashiv districts. It shed light on the struggles faced by women, including those who migrated, working in sugarcane fields, brick kilns, mines, and factories.
The findings revealed that 89.9 percent of women in Beed did not view period-related issues as serious, and 70.4 percent of women in Dharashiv felt that doctors are out of reach to treat their problems. Additionally, the report raised concerns about the issue of hysterectomies—surgery to remove the uterus—among migrant women workers.
The report underscored the dire need for better facilities, education, and healthcare to address the ongoing struggles women face in managing their menstrual health, particularly in rural and migrant communities. The study also provided several recommendations for improvement, including implementation of menstrual hygiene management programs that are tailored to the local demographics.
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Smriti Irani launches ‘Matri Shakti Bharosa Card’ in Bengal, attacks TMC rule
Kolkata (PTI): Senior BJP leader Smriti Irani on Wednesday attacked the TMC government in West Bengal, alleging large-scale corruption, financial mismanagement and failure to ensure women's safety, while promising a monthly cash support of Rs 3,000 for every woman if the saffron party is voted to power in the state.
Addressing a press conference after launching the 'Matri Shakti Bharosa Card', Irani claimed that despite substantial central assistance, the state continues to suffer from what she termed a "cut-money culture."
The Matri Shakti Bhorosa Card is an initiative by the BJP in West Bengal to provide direct financial assistance of Rs 3,000 per month to women. It is designed as a direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme aimed at empowering women, with the cards used to enrol beneficiaries for this monthly support if the party wins the state election.
Responding to TMC allegations of the Centre withholding the state's funds, she claimed West Bengal received Rs 7.24 lakh crore in tax devolution and around Rs 3 lakh crore in grants-in-aid between 2014 and 2026, apart from Rs 24,000 crore in interest-free loans for capital expenditure.
Questioning the utilisation of funds, she alleged irregularities in welfare schemes, including the existence of "25 lakh fake job cards" under MGNREGA.
"Who took that money? Why was cash recovered from the homes of TMC ministers?" she asked.
Targeting the Mamata Banerjee-led government, the former Union minister also flagged concerns over law and order and women's safety, citing incidents of violence and alleging intimidation of victims and their families in high-profile cases, including the R G Kar hospital incident.
Highlighting the BJP's 'Sankalp Patra', she said the party has promised Rs 3,000 per month for all women, Rs 21,000 assistance for pregnant women, creation of 75 lakh 'Lakhpati Didis', 33 per cent reservation for women in government jobs, and financial aid for girls enrolling in graduation courses.
Irani said, "I realised the TMC government’s approach towards women when I was the Union minister for women and child development. When the Centre announced the establishment of ‘one-stop centres’ for women facing violence, we faced difficulties in rolling it out in Bengal."
Now all over India, there are more than 900 such centres funded entirely by the Union government through which over 3.3 lakh cases related to crimes against women have been addressed, she said.
On employment, she alleged that the lack of opportunities has forced large-scale migration of youth from the state.
Referring to poll-related violence, she claimed BJP workers continue to face attacks but remain committed to democratic processes.
Dismissing the TMC's campaign around alleged restrictions on fish consumption under a BJP regime, Irani termed it a "diversionary tactic".
Instead, she questioned the decline in fish production in the state and the increasing dependence on supplies from other states.
"The real issue is how taxpayers' money is utilised, how women's safety is ensured, and how development can be accelerated under the BJP government," she said.
VIDEO | West Bengal election: BJP leader Smriti Irani (@smritiirani) on 'Matri Shakti Bhorosa card', said,
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 15, 2026
"I think BJP has demonstrated its capacity to deliver on its economic promises to women in states where it has formed governments. For instance, in Maharashtra, around 1.5… pic.twitter.com/sZ2k0Dwlnp
