Menstrual Hygiene in Indian Prisons | 30 May 2024

Source: TH

Why in News?

On World Menstrual Hygiene Day 2024, India celebrates significant progress in menstrual hygiene management, with the 5th National Family Health Survey (NFHS 2019-2020) reporting that around 80% of young women aged 15-24 now use safe menstrual hygiene products.

• However, the needs of one of the most marginalized groups of women in Indian prisons remain overlooked. Societal biases deny these women basic rights and proper menstrual hygiene management, highlighting a critical area for further improvement.

What is the Status of Menstrual Hygiene in Prisons?

• Population: According to the National Crime Records Bureau, there are 23,772 women in Indian prisons, with 77% of them in the reproductive age group (18-50 years) and likely to be regular menstruators.
• Inconsistent Access: The availability of sanitary napkins is inconsistent across prisons, and the quality of these products could be better.
• Uniform Product Size: All prisons issue ‘one size’ sanitary pads, which do not cater to the varying needs of different women.
  • Most prisons do not offer other types of menstrual products like tampons or menstrual cups.
• Lack of Facilities: Despite the 2016 Model Prison Manual's recommendations, many states have not provided female prisoners with adequate water and washroom facilities.
• Waste Disposal Issues: Proper disposal of menstrual hygiene materials is often neglected, impacting both women’s health and the facility’s hygiene.
• Additional Challenges: Overcrowding and poor socio-economic conditions further hinder access to necessities like water, detergent, and soap.

Why is Menstrual Hygiene Management Overlooked in Prisons?

• Stigma and Silence: Menstruation itself can be a taboo subject, and there might be hesitation to discuss it openly, especially in a prison environment. This can make it difficult for women to ask for what they need.
• Lack of Legal Framework: There is no law mandating the provision of free, unlimited sanitary products in prisons.
  • No prison rule has provisions for providing hot water to women prisoners to manage menstruation.
  • Menstrual Health Schemes: Existing schemes like the Menstrual Hygiene Scheme 2011, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, and Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana do not specifically address the needs of women prisoners.
  • The Model Prison Manual 2016 suggests providing sterilised sanitary pads as needed, but implementation varies widely across states and prisons.
• Data Deficiency: There is a lack of data on water availability in prisons, complicating efforts to address hygiene needs effectively.
• Lack of Awareness: Prison authorities may not be fully aware of the specific needs of women during menstruation, or the importance of menstrual hygiene for their health.
• Budgetary Constraints: Providing menstrual products can be seen as an extra expense, especially in overcrowded prisons with limited resources.

What are the Government Initiatives Related to Menstrual Hygiene?

• National Menstrual Hygiene Policy: Introduced in 2023, this policy emphasises safe and dignified MHM for all.
  • Remarkably, the policy identifies prisoners as a target population with compromised access to menstrual hygiene facilities, marking a positive step forward.
  • Lack of Concrete Plans: The policy does not provide a specific action plan for improving menstrual hygiene management in prisons.
• Menstrual Hygiene Scheme (MHS): The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched MHS to promote menstrual hygiene among rural adolescent girls aged 10-19.
  • The scheme provides subsidised sanitary napkin packs to adolescent girls through decentralised procurement, with Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers responsible for distribution and education.
• Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP): Suraksha Suvidha Napkins (oxo-biodegradable sanitary napkins) are available at Jan Aushadhi Kendras for Rs 1 each.
• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) (Mission Shakti):
  • Generating awareness about menstrual hygiene and the use of sanitary napkins.
• Samagra Shiksha: State-specific projects for menstrual health and hygiene, including the installation of sanitary pad vending machines and incinerators in schools.
• Zero-Napkin Mission: The zero-napkin mission aims to replace synthetic napkins with menstrual cups implemented in Kerala.
  • Due to the environmental challenges and health issues posed by synthetic napkins, local bodies in Kerala are distributing menstrual cups and raising awareness about their use.

Way Forward

• Period Pantry: Create designated and accessible locations in prisons for inmates to discreetly request and obtain menstrual supplies, such as vending machines stocked with products or designated staff for distribution.
• Hygiene Heroines: Train incarcerated women to become peer educators on menstrual hygiene best practices.
  • This empowers them to share knowledge with fellow inmates, fostering a sense of community and promoting self-care.
  • Organise workshops for prison staff on menstrual hygiene management and dispelling misconceptions.
  • Involve female healthcare professionals for regular access to gynaecological checkups and education on menstrual health concerns.
• Guarantee Basic Standards: The government should establish and uphold uniform national regulations for menstrual hygiene in prisons, including providing unlimited, free high-quality sanitary pads, ensuring clean and functional toilets with proper ventilation in female wards, and providing safe and hygienic disposal bins for sanitary pads.
  • Upgrade prison infrastructure by allocating a budget for necessary repairs and upgrades to toilets.
• Sustainability and Monitoring: Establish a monitoring system to assess implementation, track product availability, and address issues. Promote menstrual hygiene as a basic right and include it in prison reform initiatives for an ongoing focus on women's well-being.