Gender experts have been scratching their heads for years now on how to mainstream discussions around menstrual hygiene. Even though merely 12 percent Indian women use sanitary pads and lakhs suffer due to unhygienic menstrual practices, people refuse to address the issue. "In India, nearly 50 percent morbidity among women is due to bad menstrual hygiene. Yet, talking about menstruation is a taboo," Dr. A L Sharada, founder of Population First NGO, said.
But thanks to Akshay Kumar, a few rural adolescent girls have started to talk openly about a taboo in their lives - menstrual hygiene. The girls opened up at an event where Akshay Kumar's bicycle in PadMan, was auctioned for an organisation working for gender issues.
"It is sad that menstrual hygiene is not talked about in our drawing rooms. Many organisations have been working for this cause for years now. The stigma attached to it even today is quite disturbing," Dolly Thakore, renowned actor and gender activist told News18.
"I wasn't allowed to touch any food articles, pickles, papads. I was told by elders, I should not touch anything. I believed that God will get upset. I believed that my elders told me the truth. Why would they lie? That's why I didn't even go for any sensitisation programmes. I used to avoid them. But once, after attending such a programme, I went home and touched God. When I realised, nothing bad happened to me, I told my mother," said 16 years old Swapnali, from Shahapur.
She said she is a Kabaddi player and now travels without fear for her matches even during her periods, after having started to use sanitary pads.
Small issues like washing cotton cloth and drying it in sun are also challenging. There are many myths about the usage of sanitary pads.
"My grandmother believes that if any snake bites the used sanitary pads, then I will never have kids or never get married. From that time, I started digging a pit to dispose off the pads. Now, I know that having kids has nothing to do with the disposal of sanitary pads," a 17-year-old Megha said.
Monica, Megha's friend said, she was particularly happy that a man made a movie about sanitary pads. "At a time when we don't even have the courage to ask for sanitary pads when we see male attendants at medical stores, a man has made a movie on this. This has given us courage now," she said.
R Balki, director of PadMan, said he was quite scared of making a movie on someone's life. "This businessman who worked for women, was famous for not making money. If he made money, he wouldn't have business. That fascinated me," he said, talking about Arunachalam Muruganantham.
"In India, there is too much stigma attached to menstruation. And to see a male protagonist talk and propagate about menstrual hygiene is a welcome move. This will help create greater visibility for gender issues," said Dr. A L Sharada.
Anuja Gulati, Consultant with United Nations Population Fund, said, such moves are important to generate discussion around taboos surrounding gender issues.
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