Directorate of Information & Publicity 
DIRECTORATE OF INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY
GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI
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New Delhi, 28 May 2016
- MINISTER OF WCD SHRI SANDEEP KUMAR FLAGS OFF RALLY TO SPREAD AWARENESS ON THE OCCASION OF INTERNATIONAL MENSTRUAL HYGIENE DAY
- CITY KIDS RESOLVE TO BREAK TABOO ABOUT MENSTRUAL CYCLE
- 600 KIDS TAKE OUT RALLY, SPREAD AWARENESS
- ASMITA THEATRE GROUP PUSHES FOR “DIRECT BAAT” ON MENSTRUAL CYCLE
- SACHI SAHELI CELEBRATES MENSTRUAL CYCLE, ESTABLISHES DIALOGUE WITH SCHOOLS KIDS
The Minister of WCD, Government of NCT of Delhi, Shri Sandeep Kumar today flagged off the rally to celebrate International Menstrual Hygiene Day at Rajeev Chowk Metro Station, Cannought Place , New Delhi wherein large number of School Kids participated to create awareness among the girls. The rally was organised by the Department of Women and Child Development, Govt. of Delhi in collaboration with Sachchi Saheli. Deputy Speaker Vidhan Sabha, Smt. Bandana Kumari, Parliamentary Secretary, Ms. Alka Lamba, MLA, Ms Rakhi Birla were also present on this occasion. Later on a symposium was also organised at NDMC Convention Centre, wherein, Minister of Environment Shri Imran Hussain, Chairperson, Delhi Commission for Women, Smt. Swati Maliwal, Convenor Aam Aadmi Party, Shri Dilip Pandey and Sachi Saheli Chief Dr. Surbhi Singh addressed the gathering.
Shock and shame – this is how most women in India remember the onset of their menstrual cycle, and it changes their world entirely. The greatest irony is that menstruation is absolutely essential for survival and perpetuation of humankind, but most societies don’t want to deal with the fact that women bleed every month.
To break the taboo about menstruation cycle, 600 school kids took out a rally from Inner Circle Connaught Place to NDMC Convention Centre shouting slogans about breaking taboo about menstrual cycle. Children from various schools and volunteers were carrying placards and banners about social taboo about menstrual cycle. The event was organized by a non-government organization Sachi Saheli.
The rally concluded at NDMC Convention Centre where a session with the children where experts and speakers spoke about the taboo associated with menstrual cycle. Speaking on the occasion Chairperson of Delhi Commission for Women Swati Maliwal shared her experience about menstrual cycle and taboo related to it. She said we should talk about it freely and without hesitation.
Delhi Convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party Dilip Pandey shared his experiences about what it took to fight the taboo related to menstrual cycle. Speaking on the occasion Delhi’s water minister Kapil Mishra said that our society is a little in initiative dialogue on this issue. He told the children that they must not give in to social pressure and should stand and say no to taboo linked to menstrual cycle.
Shri Imran Hussain, Minister of Food and Civil Supplies, Environment & Forests and Election and Nitin Tyagi(MLA, Laxmi Nagar) were among the eminent guests at the event.
A panel discussion was also organized where experts answered the questions of the participants. The experts talked about myths related to menstrual cycle.
Explaining the concept, founder of Sachi Saheli initiative Dr. Surbhi Singh said,”Our understanding of menstruation was vague prior to science clarifying it. Thus a lot of bizarre beliefs were twisted to explain periods in primeval communities and cultures. Though now proven wrong by science, these beliefs are still practiced in current societies and by so-called modern communities, especially in India.” She added,”Despite having known that menstrual fluid is nothing but a harmless mixture of blood, tissues and small amounts of hormones for about a century now, the culture of silence around the subject keeps menstrual myths unquestioned and inviolable. We aren’t supposed to talk about it in the open, nor are we supposed to question the restrictions and rules that follow this natural, not to mention essential, biological process. This initiative is to break this taboo.”
Dr. Arun Gupta, President of Delhi Medical Council, said,”The clouds of myth and superstition that surround menstruation are affecting millions of women every day and more importantly, shaping how young girls and women look at themselves, their bodies and their roles in our society. Statistics reveal that at least 23 per cent of girls in India quit schools when they start menstruating and the rest miss at least five days during each monthly menstrual period between the ages of 12 and 18.” “Various research studies have identified menstruation as one of the key barriers to girls' school attendance and attainment. We have to break it if we care about girls in our society.”
Initiative volunteer Bhagyashree Bhansali said,”School is viewed as the most important opportunity for young people to affect change in their communities. It is a safe space for children and youth to escape the cycle of poverty. Hence, SACHI SAHELI, a unique initiative by Dr. Surbhi Singh (Gynecologist & social worker) is committed to advancing the rights of women and girls through gender targeted programmes in school that focus on menstruation, sexual health and feminine hygiene. She added,“With the motto, “तू बोलेगी, मुँह खोलेगी, तभी ज़माना बदलेगा”, Dr. Surbhi encourages young girls from class 8th to 12th to shed their inhibitions and speak their minds and ask questions related to menstruation freely. From her experiences, it shows that these children have a lot to tell and ask. Before Sachi Saheli, they were left to wonder in dark about the common myths surrounding menstruation such as ; Why is it that the lady of the house who prepares food and does all the family chores dutifully on all the other days of the month, abruptly become polluted and deficient only because she is going through a cycle in her body which is normal and natural?
Why are there temples in India which have put up boards not allowing menstruating woman from entering? Why do educated chemists or shopkeepers wrap up sanitary napkins in paper or brown bag before discreetly handing them over to the customer?”
By focusing on menstrual health education, SACHI SAHELI is enabling women and girls to take control of their bodies in safe, healthy and effective ways. All women deserve the right to manage their bodies hygienically and with dignity. Menstruation is a natural occurrence that ought never to cause shame or hinder opportunity. The culture surrounding menstruation is one that directly contributes to overall gender disparity within societies and one that deserves unyielding attention.
This Sachi Saheli initiative is supported by Government of NCT Delhi, NDMC, AKAR Social, Asmita Theatre Group, WASH and UNICEF.
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