Suvidha : The Next Step Towards Biodegradable Sanitary Pads

After the implication of GST on sanitary napkins at 12%, there was an uproar from all over the country by the women who condemned the imposed tax on the monthly necessity of a woman. The underprivileged population of women still dream of sanitary pads as a luxury item and that is why the government ultimately decided to launch the most cost-effective pads which will be available by 28 May 2018 at Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi centres (PMBJ).

On the eve of International Women’s Day, Oxo-Biodegradable sanitary pads were launched, Which consists of four in a pack and each costs around Rs. 2.50. Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers and Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar who was present at the event announced that these affordable pads will be available across the country at the 3200 centres of PMBJ.

According to National Family Health Survey, (2015-2016) young women of age 15-24 which

constitute around 58% use locally prepared napkins, pads and tampons. Further, around 78% of women in urban areas use hygienic methods of protection in menstruation; the graph in rural areas is still a bit low as only 48% of the women have access to fresh sanitary napkins. This graph has definitely increased since few years because of the different campaigns but still, there are many taboos, superstitions due to ignorance and blind faith.

This commendable move by the government reminds us of our duty to the people around us

that not just these cost-effective ideas but also a particular menstrual guideline will have to be prepared and circulated along the rural areas because that is where various misconceptions are born and raised for a long period of time and then people especially the women encourage those unethical theories and forwards to their next generation.

The main issue in this whole scenario is the after effects i.e. the menstrual waste disposal which is handled in a terrible way. According to Menstrual Health Alliance India (NGO), 45% of menstrual waste which is disposed of along with the other household waste is actually a dangerous trend. The same data reveals that in urban areas 13% of this waste is disposed of in open spaces like lake and rivers, 10% of this is flushed in the toilet which often leads to clogging, 9% is burnt and 8% is buried.

Suvidha is going to be the part of already going on revolutions for less menstrual waste and

reusable pads . Studies have shown that a pad could take around 500 to 800 years to decompose! Can you imagine the tones of waste already accumulated and continuing at a quick pace?

To curb these wastes many people and organizations have taken some crucial and effective steps:

Incinerators - Since few years mini incinerators are been installed at workplaces, schools and colleges. The used pad is disposed in it and that pad is burnt into ashes within few minutes. Keeping in mind that these ashes can also become a threat if disposed of in large quantity, few of the women in different regions like Gujarat have created their own eco- friendly incinerator.
Eco-friendly and biodegradable pads - You must have heard about these different types of biodegradable pads, reusable pads made of many layers of cotton, diaper-like pads and one of the latest we have heard is the MENSTRUAL CUP.
The Red Dot Campaign - This campaign was launched on February 7, 2017, at Pune. This simply states that while menstruating women will dispose their pads in a paper and wrap it properly and put a red dot on it so that while segregating the waste it can be easily identified and then can be treated separately. This motto is being followed by the Pune’s Swach Rag pickers cooperative.

Eventually but everyone is understanding the importance of menstrual hygiene and comfort women themselves are taking part in these campaigns innovating, creating and helping each other in the midst of taboos and mockery. Initiatives like these by the government are an inspiring step which will definitely clear the obstacles of misconceptions in the coming future.

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