• Alka Lamba

In India, the ‘menstrual cycle’ or ‘periods’ is still a subject that many people find uncomfortable to talk about openly. It is not a matter of shame, but of understanding. It is a natural and necessary biological process in a woman’s body, which occurs every month. It involves the shedding of the uterine lining and vaginal bleeding. It is completely normal and there should be no hesitation or silence about it.

The ground reality is that even today, lakhs of women in rural areas of states like Bihar do not have access to sanitary pads. Due to lack of information, they use unsafe means like cloth, newspaper, ash or grass. This can lead to repeated infections, reproductive diseases and even life-threatening diseases like cancer. In view of this, the Mahila Congress has started a campaign to distribute sanitary pads to women in Bihar under the ‘Priyadarshini Udaan Yojana’. Under this scheme, sanitary napkins are being distributed free of cost to more than 5 lakh women.

Criticism and double standards

Now BJP and NDA leaders are angry at this. BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari tweeted that this is “an insult to the women of Bihar” and “putting Rahul Gandhi’s picture on such a product is extremely shameful.” JDU spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said that this is “poverty of ideology”. LJP (Ram Vilas)’s Chirag Paswan called it “strange and indecent”. BJP spokesperson Poonam Singh said, there are some things of women which remain behind the curtain. On one hand, pads are given in black bags and on the other hand, distributing them with Rahul Gandhi’s photo on them is an insult to women.

But the question is- is women’s health something that should be hidden and looked at with shame? Is covering sanitary pads and hiding them in black plastic the wisdom of our society? Isn’t this the same BJP which was praising awareness on women’s health by making the movie ‘Padman’ tax free a few years ago? Isn’t this the same BJP-supported central government which has made advertisements of ‘menstrual hygiene’ through Akshay Kumar mandatory in every movie hall?

So, when a Bollywood hero-like person advertises a sanitary pad holding it, is that ‘health awareness’ and when a politician gives free pads to poor women, is that ‘politics’? The truth is... This scheme is not of any political party, but is a scheme for the dignity and health of poor women. Those who are making a fuss over the photo of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi are ignoring the basic needs of women. More important than the picture on the pad is the pad itself, which thousands of women will be able to use for the first time. We should talk openly on this subject. In today’s modern society, there is a need to increase comfort and understanding towards periods, not to hide them. When our sisters and mothers in villages and towns do not go to school or office, just because they do not have sanitary pads - then what can be a bigger question than this? If the BJP has an objection to why Rahul Gandhi’s photo is on this scheme, then they should also remember that: • Prime Minister Modi’s photo is on the Ujjwala scheme. • Modi ji’s photo was on Jan Dhan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Sauchalay Yojana, even on the Covid-19 vaccination certificate. So, can only BJP leaders’ photos be used on schemes? Can only a ‘hero’ give pads to women and not a ‘leader’? Once again, the BJP IT cell has resorted to fake photos and videos to defame Rahul Gandhi and the Congress. An inspirational campaign started by the Mahila Congress in Bihar - in which needy women are being made aware about menstrual hygiene and free sanitary pads are being distributed to them- has been used by the BJP and its supporters to throw political muck on it. The IT cell has made such photos and videos viral on social media, claiming that Rahul Gandhi’s photo is printed inside the sanitary pad. Not only is this completely fake, misleading and disgusting lie, but it also exposes the mindset of the BJP - an anti-women, backward mindset in which talking about topics like menstruation is considered ‘shameful’. Is it wrong to give pads to women to protect them from diseases? Is it true that BJP talks about women empowerment only from the stage, but when the ground work is done, it starts feeling uncomfortable?

Even today there is a beautiful tradition in South India - when a girl gets her first menstruation, a ‘half-saree ceremony’ is celebrated in the family. The entire society is invited, sweets are distributed and the girl is considered a part of the honour and pride of becoming a woman. What is a celebration in South India, the same thing becomes ‘shame’ in the thinking of BJP. Congress has a ‘firm resolve’ that every girl, every sister and every woman should get justice for her health, her dignity and her rights. Because Congress believes that till the last woman in the society does not get respect and security, true development cannot take place in India.

(The author is the President of All-India Mahila Congress)