World Menstrual Hygiene Day 2024:
On World Menstrual Hygiene Day 2024, India celebrates significant progress in menstrual hygiene management, with the 5th National Family Health Survey (NFHS 2019-2020) reporting that around 80% of young women aged 15-24 now use safe menstrual hygiene products.
- However, the needs of one of the most marginalized groups of women in Indian prisons remain overlooked.
- Societal biases deny these women basic rights and proper menstrual hygiene management, highlighting a critical area for further improvement.
- According to the National Crime Records Bureau, there are 23,772 women in Indian prisons, with 77% of them in the reproductive age group (18-50 years) and likely to be regular menstruators.
- The availability of sanitary napkins is inconsistent across prisons, and the quality of these products could be better.
- All prisons issue ‘one size’ sanitary pads, which do not cater to the varying needs of different women.
- Most prisons do not offer other types of menstrual products like tampons or menstrual cups.
- Despite the 2016 Model Prison Manual’s recommendations, many states have not provided female prisoners with adequate water and washroom facilities.
- Proper disposal of menstrual hygiene materials is often neglected, impacting both women’s health and the facility’s hygiene.
- Overcrowding and poor socio-economic conditions further hinder access to necessities like water, detergent, and soap
