By Samantha M
Period. End of sentence is a documentary that is based in a small community outside of Delhi named Harpur District. The documentary highlights the period stigma and the struggles girls face when it comes to their menstruation.
Some of the struggles girls mentioned in the documentary is the difficulty of changing their cloth, used for menstruation, at school. They have to go to a far away location in order to change their cloth during school and sometimes men will crowd around them which then prevents the girls from changing their cloth. This leads to many girls not being able to attend or finish school. In addition, sometimes girls have a limited supply of cloths and sometimes have to use a dirty cloth which can be harmful to their health.
Regarding the period stigma, one belief held by many community members is that girls cannot pray to any gods or in the temple during their menstruation because the bleeding prevents their prayers from being heard. Another stigma is that menstruation is considered not clean and dirty. The stigmas can make it hard for girls to move freely or have open conversations surrounding their periods in their communities.
The smart solution that was presented to this community was installing a pad machine that is simple to use and that just uses one ingredient which is cotton. The girls have working hours from 9am-5pm where they are able to work and make pads from scratch. After the pads are made, they are able to sell them to other girls in the community.
This is a sustainable solution because rather than just addressing the stigma or trying to change the community’s longtime held beliefs, taking action actually produces change. The money that is then made from selling the pads help girls gain financial independence. For example, a girl named Sneha would like to start a career in the police force and her money from selling pads has helped fund her training.
The women in the village have also found it hard to purchase pads from their local stores or pharmacies since many are owned by men. It is easier and more comfortable for girls to get their pads from other girls.
The solution of teaching girls how to produce pads, and then creating a market for them to sell pads creates a sustainable solution that can transform the lives of girls. Being able to move freely, attend school, and make their own money gives girls the opportunity to continue to pursue their education, have a job and financial independence, and have a solution for their menstruation. This can be an easy solution that international agencies or organizations can install in communities worldwide where girls do not have easy access to menstrual products.
To donate or to learn more visit thepadproject.com.