In Karnataka, a survey of teenage females from rural families found that 80.4% of pupils between the ages of 12 and 15 come from homes with monthly incomes of less than Rs 10,000. 76.8% of them use disposable sanitary pads, which are significantly more expensive than handmade cloth pads, despite having modest incomes.
Source: Jagran English
One explanation might be the hygiene education given to teenage females by parents and school administrators. Only 10% of the students, on the other hand, use cloth pads; the remainder alternate between cloth and disposable pads.
The materials used to make disposable padsu2014plastic, cotton, and super-absorbent polymersu2014are not biodegradable and can take a very long time to break down. Ineffective disposal damages animals and causes pollution. Additionally, the creation of these pads uses a lot of energy and materials, which increases greenhouse gas emissions and harms the environment.
A poll of the students found that just 21.4% of them knew that sanitary pads are not biodegradable and that 66.1 percent of them did not. People must be immediately informed about the negative effects that menstruation products have on the environment and encouraged to utilise sustainable alternatives.
The National Rural Health Mission, the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan campaign, and the National Urban Health Mission are just a few of the programmes the Indian government has started to promote menstrual hygiene. The significance of sustainable menstrual hygiene practices, particularly the secure disposal of menstrual waste, is emphasised by these projects. As part of the Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin (SBM-G), the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation has also released guidelines on menstrual hygiene management.
These include installing incinerators in public restrooms, providing disposal bins with lids inside toilets, and promoting awareness through information, education, and communication (IEC) plans and special educational sessions that emphasise menstruation as a biological function and eradicating taboos in the community.
It is essential to spread knowledge about the negative effects that menstruation products have on the environment and advocate for sustainable alternatives. As was previously indicated, the government has made initiatives to promote menstrual hygiene and sustainable alternatives. There are a number of eco-friendly alternatives to conventional menstruation pads, including menstrual cups, reusable cloth pads and period pants. These options are long-term economical choices in addition to being environmentally good.
Source: India Spend
However, it is difficult to promote these sustainable options due to the lack of understanding and the shame surrounding menstruation. It is crucial to spread knowledge about the negative effects that menstruation products have on the environment and to advocate for sustainable alternatives. Menstrual products have a negative influence on the environment, thus governments and manufacturers must take action to guarantee their safe disposal.
People must be informed about environmentally friendly options and inspired to make thoughtful decisions that lessen their impact on the environment. IEC efforts under SBM-G may concentrate on sanitary pad components, their damaging effects on the environment, and market alternatives to sanitary pads.
In conclusion, menstruation hygiene is a problem that affects both women and the environment. To safeguard our environment and the earth, we must focus on how menstruation products are disposed of and promote the adoption of sustainable alternatives.
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