Gujarat College Officials Strip Search 68 Girls To Find Who's Menstruating, Say Rules Are Rules

It is 2020 and unfortunately, there are still a lot of people in this country who believe that menstruation, which is a biological process is 'impure'. And during 'those days' women are barred from entering the kitchen, touching tulsi plants, eating pickle, going to the temple and much more.

Despite the best efforts to remove these unfounded stigmas, a lot of the follow or are forced to follow them in the name of tradition.

NIRAJ GERA

Now, in an atrocious act, a women's college in Bhuj, Gujarat, allegedly forced 68 undergraduate hostellers to remove their underwear to prove they were not menstruating.

The incident happened on Monday at the Shri Sahajanand Girls¡¯ Institute (SSGI) which is run by followers of Swaminarayan Mandir in Bhuj. According to reports, it all began after someone found a used sanitary pad in the garden outside the hostel. The hostel warden informed principal Rita Raniga about the incident, who summoned all the girls to come to the common area.

The Times Of India reported that there the students were given a lecture about the hostel rules according to the Swaminarayan sect rules, and asked the girls to voluntarily declare themselves. Even after two girls did, the college authorities were not satisfied and asked the girls to go to the washroom one-by-one where they were asked to strip in front of four female teachers including the principal.

Humiliated and traumatized some of the girls reported the incident to their parents. Even after the controversy, the college authorities tried to play down the issue. A student alleged that one of the college trustees, Pravin Pindoria asked them asked to forget about the incident.

¡°The sect rules have to be followed. We inform the girls about the hostel rules before they take admission. It's possible that some of the teachers may have enforced the rules a little strictly. I have called a meeting of the administrative committee which will take action against the responsible persons,¡± he later told The Times of India.

The students also alleged that according to the hostel rule, students having periods will not stay inside the hostel room but in the basement area. They cannot socialize, or enter the kitchen or place of worship. They have to maintain separate belongings including utensils and cleanse them after the period is over. They also have to seat in the last benches in the classroom.

Ironically the website of the college states that their mission was to provide "Self-development and empowerment of girls through modern, scientific and value-based education to enable them to lead a purposeful life filled with moral and spiritual values".

Following the controversy, the Kutch University authorities have formed a five-member team including in-charge vice-chancellor to look into the matter.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time such incidents have happened. In 2017 the warden of Kasturba Gandhi Girls Residential School in Muzaffarnagar had strip-searched 70 students after discovering blood stains in the bathroom.