Periods do not stop for pandemic 2.0

 Periods don't stop for pandemics. Covid 19 has thrown life out of gear especially for the underprivileged. While Volunteers, NGOs and CSR organisations are doing their best by distributing food, rations etc, not many are talking about Menstrual needs of women. Women do bleed during pandemic and they need to hygienically take care of their menstrual needs. While very few organisations are distributing disposable sanitary pads, this is just adding to the problem than providing a solution.

• The Disposable sanitary pads just add on to the waste problem that is already augmented by the increase in the use of disposables, PPE suits and Masks.
• Covid patients giving out sanitary waste adds more risk to the waste workers handling it.
•  Providing a single sanitary napkin to a women for 4 hours does not help her to manage her cycle. For how many days will CSRs keep donating the disposable pads

Also, did you know the Karnataka Government has stopped the ‘Suchi’ Scheme through which it was distributing disposable sanitary napkins to Government school girls in Karnataka, post covid pandemic. The scheme involved distribution of disposable sanitary napkins, and instilling awareness on menstrual hygiene amongst rural girls in India. Most of the rural girls are now left to tend to their menstrual needs by themselves.   

Reusable period care products are environmentally friendly, safer for womens health, economical and long term. They are trash free, rash free and cash free solutions!! The reusable period care kit can last up to 5 years, while a menstrual cup can last upto 10 years. Globally, reusable menstrual cups and reusable cloth pads have been accepted as a safe, hygienic and sustainable solution for period care. Rotary, Inner wheel, TATAs have already shifted to donating reusable period care products to the underprivileged especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

 Stonesoup Trust along with 'Stonesoup Saathis' (Our partners Pan india) and NGOs like Rotary International, Padsqad, etc plan to donate reusable cloth pad kits to school girls and Menstrual cups to women in need and covid warriors through the ‘Gift a Green Period’ project. Kindly donate generously towards this cause.