Context

• The fifth round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS 2019-2020) revealed that almost eight in 10 young women aged 15-24 years are now using safe menstrual hygiene products. But the plight of one of the most marginalized populations – women in Indian prisons – has been ignored.

Key Points

• India has witnessed a promising change in the landscape of menstrual hygiene management in the last few years. But in a society where prisoners are considered undeserving of fundamental rights, women prisoners face even greater injustice. 
• Society is attached to an unrealistic standard of female purity, not accepting that women can also commit crimes. This bias has led to systemic surveillance and neglect of the basic needs of female prisoners, including menstrual hygiene.

Menstrual Hygiene Conditions in Prisons 

• According to the National Crime Records Bureau, there are 23,772 women in Indian prisons. 
• 77% of them are in the reproductive age group (18-50 years) and are likely to have regular menstruation. 
• However, the availability of sanitary napkins has been inconsistent across various prisons in the country.
• The quality of sanitary napkins has also been unsatisfactory. 
• Despite the recommendations outlined in the 2016 Model Prison Manual, many states have not implemented provisions such as supply of adequate water and washroom facilities for women prisoners. 
• Overcrowding and poor socio-economic conditions compound the struggle of incarcerated women to secure basic necessities such as water, sanitary napkins, detergents and soap during menstruation.
• A study conducted in 2023 in a prison in Maharashtra revealed that water, sanitation and hygiene facilities are inadequate, forcing women to hoard water and use limited toilets.
• This condition led to increased cases of urinary infections and difficulties in maintaining menstrual hygiene. 
• Prisons depend on NGOs for sanitary napkin donations, often resulting in substandard products.  

Meaning of Menstrual Hygiene 

• Menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) is essential for the well-being and empowerment of women and adolescent girls. 
• On any given day, more than 300 million women around the world are menstruating. Overall, an estimated 500 million people do not have access to menstrual products and adequate facilities for menstrual hygiene management (MHM). 
• To effectively manage their menstruation, girls and women need: access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities, affordable and appropriate menstrual hygiene materials, information on good practices, and supportive environments where they are able to manage menstruation without shame or stigma.

Government Policies 

• India has been making consistent efforts to improve access to menstrual hygiene products, especially among young women, through menstrual hygiene schemes, which include distribution of free or subsidized sanitary napkins. 
• To make sanitary napkins more affordable for underprivileged women, Suraksha Suvidha napkins are also being sold at ₹1 per napkin at Jan Aushadhi Kendras.
• In 2023, India took a significant step forward by creating a 'National Menstrual Hygiene Policy' to recognize menstruation as a natural process that needs more meaningful attention. 
• At its core lies an important principle: ensuring equity in the safe and respectful management of menstrual hygiene.
• Notably, this policy identifies prisoners as a target population with compromised access to menstrual hygiene facilities. 
• This inclusion represents a positive step. 
• However, the policy fails to provide a concrete action plan to enhance menstrual hygiene management in prisons.

The Way Forward 

• The Government of India should ensure basic menstrual hygiene standards for women in prisons.
• There is a need for immediate action on the inconsistent implementation of the Model Prison Manual 2016 across all states, with each state required to follow its recommendations.
• Addressing menstrual hygiene in prisons should be seen as part of tackling 'Period Poverty' through a public health perspective.
• Public health officials and prison administrators should collaborate to develop a comprehensive strategy to provide adequate menstrual hygiene products and facilities while prioritizing the health and dignity of incarcerated women.
• Additionally, research is needed to understand the current state of menstrual hygiene in prisons.

Important Facts For Exam

Menstrual Hygiene Day 

• It was launched in 2013 by Germany-based NGO WASH United.
• The positive response led to the establishment of Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28, 2014.
• The aim is to raise awareness and promote proper menstrual hygiene management (MHM) practices throughout the world.
• Theme 2024 : Period Friendly World