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AAP's Raghav Chadha Calls Menstrual Hygiene a Health, Education & Equality Issue

AAP MP Raghav Chadha addressed the Rajya Sabha, framing menstrual hygiene as a critical issue of health, education, and equality impacting over 35 crore women and girls in India. He criticized the social taboo surrounding menstruation, contrasting the open sale of alcohol and cigarettes with the discreet wrapping of sanitary pads. Chadha argued that a girl missing school due to lack of pads, water, or privacy is a collective societal failure, not an individual problem. He stated that true national progress will only be achieved when every girl can attend school and speak about menstruation without stigma or shame.

Key Points: Raghav Chadha on Menstrual Hygiene as Health, Education, Equality

  • Affects 35 crore women & girls
  • Issue of health, education & equality
  • Social taboo vs. biological fact
  • Call for dignity and ending stigma
  • Parliamentary discussion on hygiene
2 min read

"Menstrual hygiene matter of health, education, equality": AAP MP Raghav Chadha

AAP MP Raghav Chadha raises menstrual hygiene in Parliament, calling it a collective failure affecting 35 crore women and a test of societal progress.

"If a girl misses school because there are no sanitary pads, no water and no privacy, it is not her personal problem. It is our collective failure. - Raghav Chadha"

New Delhi, March 14

Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chadha raised the issue of menstrual hygiene in Parliament, stating that it is a matter of health, education and equality, which affects over 35 crore women and girls in India.

In a post on X, Chadha said if a girl misses school because there are no sanitary pads, water, and privacy, it is not her personal problem but a collective failure. He added that society has turned a biological fact into a social taboo.

"If a girl misses school because there are no sanitary pads, no water and no privacy, it is not her personal problem. It is our collective failure. We live in a country where alcohol and cigarettes are sold openly, but sanitary pads are still wrapped in newspaper as if they must be hidden. Somewhere along the way, society turned a biological fact into a social taboo. A matter of science has been turned into a matter of silence," Chadha said in the Rajya Sabha.

The AAP MP said that menstrual hygiene is not a charity, favour or a side issue. He added that it is a matter of health, education and equality. "Above all, it is a matter of dignity," he said.

Chadha said he raised this issue in parliament as it affects over 35 crore women and girls in India. He said a nation cannot call itself truly progressive unless every girl in India can go to school, live with dignity and speak about this without any stigma.

"Raised this issue in Parliament today because it affects over 35 crore women and girls in India. A nation cannot call itself truly progressive if millions of girls still face fear, shame and silence for something so basic. The real test of progress is simple. The day every girl in India can go to school, live with dignity and speak about this without stigma, that will be the day we can truly say our society has moved forward," he added.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Absolutely correct. It's shocking that in 2024, pads are still wrapped like something illegal. We need more awareness campaigns in rural and urban areas alike. This is about our mothers, sisters, and daughters.
A
Anjali F
While I appreciate the sentiment, I wish he had also talked about concrete steps. Free pads in schools are a start, but what about changing mindsets? The taboo starts at home. We need education for boys and men too.
S
Sarah B
As someone who has worked with NGOs on this, the scale is immense. 35 crore is not just a number. It's millions of lost school days and opportunities. The government's scheme for subsidized pads needs better implementation on the ground.
K
Karthik V
Good point raised. But let's be honest, how many MPs will actually follow this up with action? We see speeches in Parliament, but will there be a bill or increased budget allocation? Talk is cheap, action is needed.
M
Meera T
The comparison to alcohol and cigarettes is so apt! Why is a natural, healthy process hidden while harmful substances are advertised openly? This needs a societal shift. Proud that someone is saying this on record.

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