Jaya's 'Napkin Revolution' to promote healthy habits among TN's rural women

A revolution of a different kind gathering steam in Tamil Nadu.

In a move to improve the health of adolescent girls and ensure the reproductive health of women, the Jayalalithaa government has launched a 'Napkin Revolution' all over the state. More than 41 lakh rural adolescent girls in the 10 to 19 years age group, seven lakh new mothers and more than 700 women prisoners stand to benefit through the free sanitary napkin scheme, described as the first-of-its-kind in India.

Girls and women are being taught the importance of switching over to sanitary napkins rather than using cloth. The last two years witnessed women volunteers belonging to various NGOs visiting villages and creating awareness among adolescent girls and women about the significance of using napkins. “The villagers even now consider menstruation as a curse of God. They use unhygienic cloth during these critical days. We were shocked to learn that the same cloth is used by different members of the family,” said Prof N Manimeghalai, head, department of women studies, Bharathidasan University, Trichy. Prof Manimeghalai is an activist touring Tamil Nadu villages teaching girls and women how to use and dispose napkins.

According to this new initiative launched by the government, free sanitary napkins will be distributed to rural girls, new mothers and girl students studying in government schools. Government hospitals, primary health centres, village sub centres, anganwadis, rural nurses and Integrated Child Development Scheme centres have been asked to distribute the napkins. Women volunteers teach them the dos and don'ts associated with the  use of sanitary napkins.

Dr T Kamaraj, physician and an activist of Tamil Nadu Science Forum, said the new scheme will bring down the infertility rate as well as the gynecological disorders which are common among Tamil Nadu women. “The rural and urban poor in the state are ignorant about hygiene practices which are a must for their health. This step will drastically reduce such medical disorders,’ he said.

A government order said Rs41 crore has been set apart exclusively for this programme. The principal secretary (health) has been directed to monitor the implementation of the scheme. Local bodies and schools too have been asked to monitor the disposal of the used napkins to save environment.

In addition to the napkins, all girls and women are being provided with free health diaries. “They will also be given free iron and folic acid tablets and de-worming tablets. Interestingly, last month’s election to the local bodies in the state saw maximum number of women getting elected as mayors, municipal council chairpersons, panchayat presidents and members of local bodies. “Amma is on a mission to empower women and this is a unique move. If we succeed in implementing it, Tamil Nadu will be the role model for the whole country,” said a senior bureaucrat.