Member of Parliament Raghav Chadha recently raised the issue of menstrual hygiene and social stigma surrounding periods during a discussion in the Indian Parliament. In his speech, he stressed that menstruation is a natural biological process, yet millions of women and girls in India still face shame and silence around it.
Chadha highlighted that lack of access to sanitary products, clean water, and proper sanitation facilities forces many girls to miss school. According to him, when a girl cannot attend school because she does not have sanitary pads or adequate privacy, it reflects a failure of society rather than an individual problem.
He also pointed out the contradiction in social attitudes: products such as alcohol and cigarettes are openly sold across the country, while sanitary pads are often wrapped in newspaper and handed over discreetly, as if they must be hidden. Chadha argued that this mindset has turned a scientific and biological reality into a social taboo.
Emphasising the seriousness of the issue, he said menstrual hygiene should not be treated as charity or a favour. Instead, it must be recognised as a matter of health, education, equality, and dignity for women and girls.
Chadha concluded that a truly progressive society would be one where girls can openly talk about menstruation, attend school without fear or embarrassment, and live with dignity. Breaking the stigma surrounding periods, he said, is essential for achieving gender equality and improving women’s health in India.
