'Pad Didi' In Chhattisgarh Is On A Mission To Destroy Myths About Menstruation
Menstruation once was a subject that could not be discussed properly in India. Even now, it is considered taboo in many places, especially in rural areas. But in Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, one woman is breaking these barriers and calling out the myths of menstruation.
Menstruation once was a subject that could not be discussed properly in India. Even now, it is considered taboo in many places, especially in rural areas. But in Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, one woman is breaking these barriers and calling out myths about menstruation.
As per a report in The New Indian Express, Hercharan Kour is spreading awareness on menstrual hygiene and the use of sanitary napkins. She is known by the locals as 'Pad Didi'.
For the last four years, the 49-year-old has distributed over five lakh sanitary pads in schools, colleges, and slums with the help of her NGO. Kour has done her MA in Social Science. In 2014, she had to have an operation known as radical hysterectomy (uterus removal) surgery. This was after she had suffered from excessive menstrual bleeding with shooting pain for over three years.
EXPRESS
Six months later the problem started again.
"I had to endure the suffering for so long owing to my elders in the family, who were unfamiliar with the cause. Unlike me, many might not be as fortunate to escape such prolonged discomfort without any serious ill effect. Even many educated women are not aware of the complexity that may arise owing to irregular menses. Consulting doctors, stay in tune with the body and taking the right decision at the right time is a must,¡± she said.
Since she faced the pain herself, she decided to spread awareness among others. In 2016 she started the Anubhuti Shree Foundation.
EXPRESS
The foundation has provided sanitary napkins for free in slums of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand. Medical camps are also arranged to provide knowledge on menstrual hygiene.
¡°I always ask women and girls on why God¡¯s gift of the normal biological process be treated as a disgrace. Let¡¯s face it with pride maintaining all cautions,¡± she added.
It is so important for people - not just women and girls, but even male members of the family - to be made aware of menstrual hygiene. It is not something that makes women impure; it is just our biology, and we could do with a lot more pad didis in the country.
