"Breaking the Taboo: Addressing Menstrual Hygiene in Indian Prisons"

The plight of one of the most marginalized populations - women in Indian prisons- remains overlooked. In a society where prisoners are deemed unworthy of fundamental rights, female prisoners face an even greater injustice. Society yet clings to an unrealistic standard of female purity, refusing to accept that women too can commit crimes.

This bias has led to a systemic oversight and neglect of female prisoner's basic needs, including menstrual hygiene.

India has been making consistent efforts to improve access to menstrual hygiene products, especially among young women through Menstrual Hygiene Products.

However, a study conducted by one of the authors in a prison in Maharashtra in June 2023 revealed that water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities failed to meet the demands of women imprisoned there.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau, there are 23,772 women in Indian prisons. Of them, 77% are in the reproductive age group (18-50 years) and are likely to be regular menstruators.

Barriers to Menstrual Health:-

1. Socio-cultural barriers

2. Infrastructural barriers

3. Educational Barriers

4. Economic Barriers

5. Policy and legal Barriers

6. Health- system barriers

However, the availability of sanitary napkins has been inconsistent across different prisons in the country. The quality of sanitary napkins has also been unsatisfactory.

Despite recommendations outlined in the 2016 Model Prison Manual, many states have not implemented provisions like supplying adequate water and washroom facilities for female prisoners.

Overcrowding the poor socio-economic conditions further exacerbates the struggle of incarcerated women to secure necessities such as water, sanitary napkins, detergent, and soap during menstruation.

What Improper Menstrual Health Lead to?

1. Health Implications

2. Impact on Environment

3. Economic Consequences

4. Human rights issues

5. Psychological Impact

6. Social Disruptions

Schemes and Policies

In 2023, India took an important stride forward by formulating the 'National Menstrual Hygiene Policy', to recognize menstruation as a natural process that demands more meaningful attention.

The Draft Policy states- "Prioritise equity to enable all menstruating individuals, regardless of their socio-economic status and geographical location, to have equal opportunities to access and manage their menstruation safely and hygienically.

Remarkably, the policy identifies prisoners as a target population with compromised access to menstrual hygiene facilities. This inclusion reflects a positive step forward. However, the policy falls short of providing a concrete action plan to enhance menstrual hygiene management in prisons.

Project Shakti: Launched in the year 2014-15 as a CSR activity is an initiative to financially empower rural women and create livelihood opportunities for them. Through this project, the Company endeavors to enhance the livelihoods of rural women. One of the key parameters to enhancing the availability of cleaner measures and adequate measures in the prison.

Way Forward

The experience of menstruation within prisons presents unique challenges that demand attention through a public health lens, particularly as part of the fight against 'Period Poverty' and the following steps can be ensured to maintain menstrual hygiene within the prison walls:-

• Affordable Menstrual Hygiene Products

• Clean Menstrual hygiene facilities

• Promoting Education and Awareness

• Collaboration with NGO and Private Sector

• Foster Research and Development in Hygiene Management.

- A Blog by Jitisha .S. Hiremath

Source: An editorial from the Hindu newspaper and other daily magazines also from the authorised Wikipedia