On the occasion of World Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28, Chhattisgarh women and child development minister Anila Bhedia said women should not consider “period” as shameful, but they should be proud of it.
It is linked to procreation and a natural process, he added.
Women are uncomfortable to speak about this natural occurrence both in urban and rural areas.
She said, due to periods, adolescent girls refrain from moving out of house and skip schools, and follow age-old taboos. State government had initiated several schemes to create awareness, including ‘Suchita’ scheme for school going girls, installing vending machine for sanitary pads while several women self-help groups are involved in making sanitary napkins.
Meanwhile, addressing the roundtable for journalists on the subject, Niharika Barik Singh, secretary, Department of Health and Family welfare, Government of Chhattisgarh called upon girls and women to participate in ‘Pyari Bitiya’ event scheduled on May 28, across the state organised at Health and Wellness Centres.
The girls will be briefed on hemoglobin and menstruation including cleanliness .
Prasanta Dash, CFO UNICEF said there is need for integrated effort to create awareness in which media can also play a key role.
Different events are being organised on the issue from May 27 to 29, 2019.
