Ahead of Menstrual Hygiene Day (May 28), as we converse to tricity-based feminine college students, we discover that lack of knowledge, restricted entry to menstrual merchandise, and protracted social stigmas surrounding menstruation proceed to be a hurdle for them.

While optimistic steps are being taken to deal with the problem of menstrual hygiene, there’s nonetheless loads that must be carried out.

“Our campuses usually are not actually period-friendly. Yes, some washrooms on campus have sanitary pad dispensers, however most are both out of order or aren’t often stocked up,” says Vidya Sharma, a first-year undergraduate pupil at Panjab University.

“A number of things can be done to improve menstrual hygiene, including the provision of free or subsidized sanitary pads on campus, an open dialogue about menstruation, and proper maintenance of the existing infrastructure,” she provides.

Gursimran Kaur, a second-year MA pupil at MCM DAV College for Women, says, “Menstruation continues to be a taboo in our nation. We first must take care of the stigma connected to it if we wish any actual change. The tuck retailers on campus have male attendants and I’ve seen many college students really feel hesitant to strategy their retailer to purchase sanitary pads. Even the shopkeepers pack pads as if they’re one thing to be ashamed of. We want to vary that first.

“Menstrual hygiene is a significant problem. The washrooms on campus are by no means clear, the pad dispensers are all the time out of order, and generally there isn’t any water provide within the bathroom. And there’s all the time the chance of an infection. So, hygiene is out of query. If the authorities take motion and resolve these points, we can’t must miss lessons during times,” says Garima Mittal, of Dev Samaj College.

Shaheen, of SD College, says, “The campus washrooms have sanitary pad recycling machines however no dispensers. So, if an emergency arises, you both must borrow from a classmate or examine if the retailers on campus have pads. And being a co-ed faculty, in case you get a stain, the snickers and embarrassing feedback that observe are an excessive amount of to deal with.”

“We understand that it is crucial to create a supportive environment for the females on campus and are actively working towards it. But sensitizing an entire college, including the faculty, staff, and male students is bound to take time; breaking deep-rooted taboos and eliminating shame associated with periods will need continued efforts and a lot of unlearning,” says Sukhdeep Kaur Bhatti, an administrative staffer.

“Many NGOs maintain consciousness campaigns on campus to interrupt the taboo and foster a tradition of openness relating to menstruation. These campaigns intention to debunk myths, present the fitting details about menstrual well being, and encourage conversations in regards to the matter. But issues will not change in a single day. It’s a gradual course of,” says Mallika Bhagat, a PhD scholar at PU.