Period Poverty and Law: An Emperical Research – Part II

18th April, 2024 - 7:01 am Categories: News & Updates 0 Comments

Most of the survey takers belonged to the age of 20 years i.e., 38.5%, which is equal to 45 individuals. The second highest survey takers belonged to the age group of 19 years i.e., 32.5%, which is equal to 38 individuals. The individuals of 14 years, 15 years, 16 years, 17 years, 18 years who took part in the survey were 01, 01, 00, 05, 12 (in numerical) respectively. The form also took a survey of 15 girls/women who were of 20+ years of age owing to their in-depth knowledge of the issue.

Most of the survey takers belong to Upper Middle Class Income Group i.e., 53%, which is equal to 62 individuals having income more than 08 lakhs per annum. The second-highest percentage of survey takers was of Lower Middle Class Income Group i.e., 25.6%, which is equal to 30 individuals. The individuals who took part in the survey and are from Upper Class Income Group and Lower Class Income Group were 18.8% (= 22 persons) and 2.6% (= 03 persons) respectively.

The definition of the Period Poverty was provided in the description of the Google Form. It was defined as “When a girl not being able to afford menstrual products (sanitation facilities in schools/colleges/hospitals/workplace due to lack of infrastructure or facilities available). Subjected to discrimination inside her home during the time periods by her family members. Family members base their argument on religion/religious scriptures, however, the religion neither implicitly nor explicitly mentions any such thing. Lack of awareness in you (the respondent) yourself.”

68.4 per cent of the survey takers have not faced Period Poverty. In numbers, the percentage is equal to 80 individuals out of 117. Contrary to them, 31.6 per cent (equals to the remaining 37) of individuals who took part in the survey have faced Period Poverty.

Question No. 04 is related to Question No. 03 and was specifically made for those who have faced Period Poverty and answered ‘Yes’ in the third question. This question was both open-ended and close-ended as it provided a few options, that are, School and/or College, Home, Public Places such as Parks, Public Toilets, Hospitals, etc., and a blank space was provided to the survey takers so as to mention where else they faced the same. The question had checkboxes, thereby allowing the survey takers to mark more than one place where they faced Period Poverty.

The responses received were such that 18 girls and/or women, who answered ‘yes’ to Question No. 03 faced Period Poverty at School and/or College, 00 of them faced the same at their Home, 17 of them faced the same at Public Places, 01 faced at her workplace or business, 01 faced at her friend’s home and 78 of them opted ‘Not Applicable’ in the question. However, 02 individuals, in order to maintain secrecy, did not write the place where they faced Period Poverty or the lack of Menstrual Health Management.

Question No. 05 was also made specifically for the girls/women who faced Period Poverty in their life. The question was an open-ended question allowing survey takers to write to whom they reached after facing Period Poverty or lack of Menstrual Health Management at the concerned place. Most of the survey takers mentioned that they reached no one for help, out of fear and embarrassment, i.e., 24.3 per cent, which is equal to 26 individuals. Others who faced Period Poverty reached for help from their friends (5.6 per cent i.e., 06 persons) mother (0.9 per cent i.e., 01 person), lady teacher (2.8 per cent i.e., 03 persons), and others. However, 66.4 per cent of the survey takers mentioned that they are ‘Not Applicable’ for the question.

Question No. 06 was an open-ended question where the survey takers were asked what they did after facing period poverty. To which most of the survey takers stated that they started carrying sanitary napkins and other menstrual hygiene products during their periods so as to prevent any mishap. The second majority answer was that they stayed back at home during their period irrespective of any important work they have to perform at their workplace, go somewhere outside or attend school to attempt examinations.

Question No. 07 was created to analyse the awareness about public policies and welfare schemes in the survey takers about how the Indian Government is taking various steps in order to promote Menstrual Health Management and end Period Poverty. 59 participants out of 117 i.e., 50.4% of the participants mentioned that they are not aware of the scheme launched by the Central Government so as to tackle the issues that arise due to lack of Mental Health Management, while 58 participants i.e., 49.6% were aware of the same. The Central Government launched National Menstrual Hygiene Scheme (MHS) under the ‘Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram’ in 2014 intending to promote Menstrual Hygiene among adolescent girls and till now the scheme has remained quite successful, after the inception of Pradhan Mantri Janaushadhi Pariyojna Kendra providing the same.

The question employed checkboxes where participants were allowed to mention more than one psychological concern that they have faced due to Period Poverty. The results showcase that 31.6% i.e., 37 out of 117 have faced low mood, 21.4% i.e., 25 participants have faced anxiety, 14.5% i.e., 17 individuals have faced Nervousness or Embarrassment, and 10.3% i.e., 12 survey takers have faced  Fear of Sigma as a consequence of Period Poverty and lack of Menstrual Health Management at a certain place. 01 individual has faced nothing as a result of Period Poverty while 01 has mentioned that she got very sad, regretting the fact that she is a girl. She further mentioned that society stigmatizes this issue, getting periods at school or any other public place embarrassed her a lot. Thus, it is evident enough to showcase the psychological complications that one faces due to the absence of any Menstrual Hygiene Management.

The Chart is a Bar Graph representing the family income group to which the girls/women belong who have faced Period Poverty (as provided in Figure 03 above).

The Pie Chart mentions the number of women/girls (who have faced Period Poverty), who are aware of the scheme launched by the Central Government promoting awareness about menstruation.

The bar graph represents the places, primarily where the survey takers who have faced Period Poverty or the lack of Menstrual Hygiene Management.

CONCLUSION

During the catastrophic and unprecedented situation during the Covid-19 pandemic in the year 2020, the people encountered the longest and most stringent lockdown at the national level. Though the lockdown was imposed with an aim to benefit the people at a large, it resulted in the destruction of the global economy, earnings of daily-wage workers, et al. The underprivileged strata of Indian society, as a result of this lockdown, were forced into poverty in such a manner that they even fail to feed themselves as well as their children. The rise in poverty during these times backed with pre-existing poverty unleashed havoc on the menstrual health of women in India.

In order to cope up with the menstrual concerns, women started using unhygienic measures such as clothes, tree leaves, etc. Though the Government of India had launched a scheme, the pandemic even hindered its functioning. Women in poverty started spending money by giving importance to other concerns than their menstrual hygiene. As a result of which, they suffered major physical and psychological implications.

Author: Kaustubh Kumar, in case of any queries please contact/write back to us via email to chhavi@khuranaandkhurana.com or at  Khurana & Khurana, Advocates and IP Attorney.