You may know it as ‘periods’, ‘monthlies’ ‘aunty flow’, ‘that time of the month’ or even code red but menstruation is a natural and essential part of the reproductive cycle. Roughly half the human population has will experience it and there’s so much that we still don’t know about it. The Scottish government improve the availability of free period products, in public places. They have worked with third sector organisations to expand access to these products, for those on low incomes. It is the first country that is working towards eradicating period poverty.
Period property is lack of menstrual education and lack of menstrual awareness and access to menstrual hygiene products. According to a recent survey of 13 different countries by global children’s charity plan international it was found that period property arises from the problems arranged around stock shortages and price increases and even give to difficulties in accessing water and basic services. With the pandemic and the lockdown and it’s only gotten worse. In India, only 12% of women have access to period products. It has been seen statistically in India that women do not have any kind of menstrual education before she hits menarche. Period positivity is essential for any society and its women to grow. India has bigger volumes to play on. Low-cost products are available but the quality is really bad and it’s available in the urban region. In rural India girls and women generally use cotton pads during menstruation. This is not only and hygienic but also uncomfortable. In rural areas, they have to choose between asking for a meal or asking for a sanitary pad. This is the worst thing that can happen to any human being. Women have to be empowered to choose for themselves that which product works better for them. Swachh Bharat has mentioned menstrual hygiene as one of their core element but the implementation of that scheme is so poor that the adolescent girls are not able to get the education. The shame and taboo are so strong that it stopped one to provide and implement this kind of schemes. Both girls and boys receive sex education and menstrual education.