Page 30 - MHM Report-2023
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No More a ‘Curse of God’:
Dealing with taboos and myths
or years, Somi Bai Garasiya, a 42-year-old Water Mission in Gujarat consider menstrual blood
tribal woman from Basantgarh village in “impure”. In Jharkhand, the percentage was even
FSirohi district of Rajasthan, would fear the higher — covering 75% of the women surveyed.
onset of her periods. Hundreds of miles away, in These myths and misconceptions often lead
a village in Maharashtra, Vaishali Aatram had to social restrictions that adversely impact the
similar concerns. “I felt dirty and untouchable physical and psycho-social health of women and
while menstruating because I considered myself adolescent girls. The most common restrictions are
impure during these phases,” says the 28-year- in the form of limitations on food consumption,
old from Indrathana village from Maharashtra’s social interaction, mobility and religious worship.
Yavatmal district. For instance, in Rajasthan, women are forbidden
That menstruation or period blood is dirty or from cooking or doing water-related chores during
impure is one of the most widespread and harmful menstruation. Champaben says that she was
myths around menstruation. Champaben Solanki, subjected to purification by cow-urine during her
35, from Gujarat’s Dahod district once believed menstruation cycles. “For five days a month, I was
that menstruation was a “curse by God”. Like not allowed to touch kitchen utensils; I had to sit
her, 60% of the women and girls surveyed by Tata outside and use a separate plate to eat on,”
Champaben says.
An open and scientifically-tempered
conversation is critical for dispelling these taboos
and myths. Hence, a standard inclusion in the
Trusts’ MHM interventions across genders and
ages is a ‘myth-buster’ conversation around
menstruation. Informative sessions around
the functions of menstrual blood have proved
helpful in dispelling these myths. The volunteers
draw attention to menstrual blood’s function
as nutrition for the unborn child to dispel the
‘impurity’ myth.
By participating in the MHM initiative,
hundreds of women like Somi Bai, Champaben
and Vaishali now have access to the right
knowledge and tools to handle their menstruation
better. Somi Bai says that she doesn’t hesitate
to visit temples during her periods anymore.
For others like Vaishali and her daughter, these
interventions have put an end to the practice of
seclusion during periods.
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