Saturday May 4th, 2019 saw me visiting the campus of Swami Sivananda Memorial Institute, a government aided school in Punjabi Bagh , East. While I was invited to interact with students and handover scholarships that 22 of their students earned, I had requested the Director, Sunita Bhasin, for me to conduct a menstrual hygiene session with the young girls present. Ever since the launch of #LetsTalkPeriod I look forward to the pro bono workshops and sessions that I take in slums, companies and instituitions alike.
SSMI grooms children from the economically weaker section from pre nursery to class 10. In a well lit room with daris on the floor, I was handed the mike to break the ice and start the session with a group of 100 odd girls from across classes between the age group of 10- 16 years. The girls were hesitant to begin with but soon felt at ease with the open flow of conversation. About half of the group raised their hands when asked if their periods had started and the average age for those who raised their hands was 13. We covered topics detailing the process of menstruation, the physiological aspect is easy to explain with the rubber model of the reproductory system that I have as a gift from Malini, Co Founder Stone soup. We discussed the average cycle, maintaining hygiene, nutritious food to be consumed, solutions available including cloth pads, options of disposal and common ailments among other things. Some girls enthusiastically voluneteered to demonstrate the yog asans that are helpful in cramps and regularising periods, as we discussed easy home remedies for relief. We also discussed superstitions and common beliefs that may have been useful in an era gone by but are reduntant as of today. A sample question that was addressed and the answer to it is mentioned below.
Q: Can I go to the temple/pray when I have my date (periods are also called dates as I learnt)
A: If the God that you pray to, stops listening to you when you are on your period then we don’t need such a God
The above is a typical question that needs to be answered in reference to physiological and social context. In the bygone era to give relief to the woman from her daily chores, few days through her menstruation may have been a period of rest. Also because adequate hygiene solutions may not have been accessible and the temples being a social place, it may lead for them to stain/spot especially while bowing down. Further since there is a higher risk for infections while catering to the demands of sex during periods, hence social rules were set for absitenence that got convoluted to being ‘impure’. In todays age with adequate solutions and knowledge there is no reason for not visiting the temple.
The girls were inquistive, interactive, receptive and were quick to grasp all the information shared. Contrary to popular media stories that rile up the ‘poor nation’ stereotypes to endorse their documentary films or products without actual insights.When so much positive influence that the media can spread to bust myths and superstitions, amplifying stereotypes is such a disservice to the cause. What for just a few dollars more?
Oh Btw! SABERA was launched for this very reason, to amplify the voices doing good beyond the melee of sensational media endeavours. SSMI was acknolwded through a certificate of appreciation for their contribution in the catgory Education in 2018. This year they vie to win the trophy in the Health & nutrition category for their program that provides fortified weaning food to 18000 women and children daily, providing employment to 120 marginalised women in the process.
The director took me on an a tour proudly showing the various social interventions that SSMI is involved in to minimise its dependence on donations and maximise self sustainability. Other outreach programs included a large community kitchen , a textile & block printing wing exporting cloth bags/linen and a green house using innovative methods of growing food. All this while providing employment to marginalised women from the neighbouhood slums. I wish her the best.
And in case you are you an individual, CSR team member or an enterprise that believes and Does Good. Then you must submit your entries to SABERA 2019 too and avail the early bird discounts till they last! To know more log in here.
