In India, menstruation is more than a biological process. According to the National Library of Medicine (NIH), girls’ health and education are foundational to a country’s development and essential for their full participation in political, economic and cultural life. According to UJAAS, “Period poverty is the lack of access to menstrual products, hygienic sanitation, and period education among women. It is one of the most critical issues faced by women in India.”

Causes of Menstrual Poverty in India

According to UJAAS, one of the most significant causes of menstrual poverty is the stereotypes that surround menstruation. When individuals bring up the topic of a period, the conversation is essentially hushed. The silence surrounding the topic of menstruation has been normalized, according to UJAAS. This causes women to be ashamed and can result in worsening problems.

Additionally, according to UJAAS, there is poor period awareness in India. Talking about menstruation is considered “taboo,” according to India Today. It can be associated with many myths, causing women to think that periods are impure or dirty.

School Dropout Increasing

Menstrual poverty impacts education in India. According to India Today, a lack of access to affordable sanitary products, clean bathrooms and menstrual education can cause many girls to miss school or drop out entirely. According to India Today, 60% of women in India do not attend school during their menstrual cycle.

In many schools, the lack of proper sanitation exacerbates the issue. India Today reports that 15,000 schools in India do not have functional toilets, and in some cases, girls must share toilets with boys or use stalls without doors, leaving them with no safe or private space to manage their periods. Without disposal systems, girls often skip school during menstruation out of fear, shame, or discomfort.

Furthermore, the New Indian Express reports that one in five girls in India drop out of school once they start menstruating. This is mostly because there is not only no menstrual education but also no access to sanitary products inside schools.

Additionally, research from Iwa Publishing shows that girls who go to school on their period have a higher chance of better academic performance. The odds are 14.82 times higher of this when compared to those who do not attend school on their periods.

Menstrual Poverty and Illness in India

According to Save the Child Foundation, menstrual poverty can cause an increased rate of sickness and can sometimes be fatal. When there is little to no access to the products needed, a lack of medical care and poor hygiene, diseases are more likely to occur.

Oftentimes, according to Save the Child Foundation, diseases such as urinary tract infections (UTIs) and other common infections can be fatal. In India, malnutrition is also a severe issue that can impact the health of women during their periods heavily.

In rural India, many women depend on unsafe feminine hygiene products such as rags, hay, sand or ash, according to UJAAS. Along with UTIs, infections such as rashes or bleeding can also be present.

Adding to the health risks is the widespread lack of medical support. According to the Deccan Herald, 91.7% of women do not seek medical help for menstrual health issues due to the lack of female doctors.

According to NIH, a 2024 study surveyed 6,715 girls across 16 states and found that only 14.3% sought treatment from health professionals.

Additionally, the International Journal of Community Medicine & Public Health reported that 62% of participants exhibited RTI symptoms like lower abdominal pain and painful urination, reflecting emerging reproductive morbidity from poor menstrual hygiene.

Solutions in Action

In November 2024, the Union Health Ministry approved the Menstrual Hygiene Policy for School-Going Girls. According to NDTV, this mandates free sanitary pads and hygiene kits for female students in government and aided schools nationwide.

According to NDTV, this policy, formally approved on November 2, 2024, also includes provisions for separate girls’ toilets and safe disposal systems. This marks a major push to normalize menstrual hygiene in schools and ensure dignity in uninterrupted education for adolescent girls.

In Madhya Pradesh, grassroots social enterprises like Saukhyam are advancing sustainable menstrual health through reusable, cloth-based pads made from banana fiber, according to Amma.

The Saukhyam Reusable Pads project, under Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Math’s Amrita SeRVe initiative, has reached more than 500,000 women and girls, according to Amma. This eliminated thousands of menstrual waste and received recognition like the Women Transforming India Award from NITI Aayog.

According to The Pioneer, these eco-friendly pads can last up to three years and have gained interest in more than 500,000 individuals in India as well as internationally. They also foster both environmental sustainability and cost-efficiency for users.

The Future

The Uttar Pradesh government, with the support from UNICEF, has launched the Swachh Garima campaign across 746 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, according to the Free Press Journal. This initiative equips adolescent girls with scientific menstrual education, nutrition guidance and communication rights.

According to the Free Press Journal, specially trained female teachers deliver interactive lessons and involve parents. This aims to dismantle stigma and reinforce school attendance.

These efforts demonstrate a growing commitment to improving menstrual health management, supporting girls’ education, and breaking the cycle of poverty linked to menstruation stigma.

– Clarissa Dean

Clarissa is based in Bowling Green, KY, USA and focuses on Good News and Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr