PERIOD NEWS: India Leads the Fight Against Period Poverty
After the recent removal of the 12% National Sales Tax imposed on menstrual products, India has become a frontrunner in the fight against period poverty. India now joins Kenya, Ireland, and Canada as one of the few countries that places no tax on menstrual products! This bold move raises questions: “Why is period poverty such a large issue?” “How was this achieved?” “Why isn’t every country doing this?” “Will this completely fix the issue of period poverty?” For more on this, keep reading.
In the video above, while recounting the breaking news (cough cough flowing news), I’ve created a henna tattoo design — an ancient art form in India — symbolic of this historic feat. Can you guess what’s being depicted here? It’s o-very… I’m running out of period puns now.
Yes, you’ve guessed it. It’s the female reproductive (& menstruation) system. Now that you have some background knowledge and realized that ovaries are actually flowers growing inside a woman’s body, let’s delve deeper into some of those questions raised above.
“Why is period poverty such a large issue?”
Period poverty — lack of access to menstrual hygiene products — is an issue highly prevalent in India amongst other parts of the world. The unspoken nature of “it” leaves it largely unaddressed in a society full of taboos, stigmas, and superstitions surrounding “it.” To put it simply, how are we supposed to solve an issue that is not openly talked about?
Periods —a phenomenon women experience for an average if forty years of their lives — are the number one reason girls miss school in India. A report published by UNICEF and WaterAid found that more than a third of girls in South Asia miss school during their periods, mainly due to lack of access to toilets (failing to reach standards set by WHO of one toilet per 25 girls) and pads in schools and no proper education about menstruation. In addition, BBC reports that 70% of all reproductive diseases is caused by poor menstrual hygiene, encompassing both the lack of access to products, and lack of education about how to use them. NIINE and FOGSI, The Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India, report that only 18% of women know how to use menstrual products in India, which altogether reiterates the importance of acceptable and affordable products, access to adequate sanitation facilities, and knowledge about menstruation/options available for management.
Menstrual hygiene has been identified as a global public health and human rights issue by the UN. Human Rights Watch and WASH United groups.
“How was this achieved?”
A year ago, the Government of India brought all sales products under a common tax, including a high 12% National Sales Tax on Menstrual Products. This move by India’s Government was met with anger by protestors, activists, and women’s rights groups, viewing this tax as a setback in the fight against period poverty. They named the campaign “Lahu ka Lagaan,” a Hindi phrase which translates to the tax on blood.
This campaign quickly gained momentum after months of campaigning and court challenges. Bollywood stars like Akshay Kumar, starring as Arunachalam Muruganantham in the movie Padman, played a key role in mobilizing people through the #PadManChallenge on instagram. All of this momentum was seized by Indian lawmaker Sushmita Dev, launching a petition that garnered more than 400,000 signatures, ultimately removing the blood tax.
“Why hasn’t every country removed the blood tax?”
The answer to this question is simple. Menstrual products are viewed under the umbrella of luxury items rather than as necessities.
“I have to tell you, I have no idea why states would tax these (menstrual products) as luxury items. I suspect it’s because men were making the laws when those taxes were passed.”
— Barack Obama
In India, women’s fashion items such as the bindi, sindoor (vermillion), and kajal along with contraceptives were tax-free products way before menstrual products were, fueling the systemic outrage. Although, removal of this tax is very progressive, many environmentalists alternatively argue that removal of this tax would encourage accumulation of plastic, non-biodegradable products in landfills. To tackle that issue, many period brands aiming to promote sustainability are on the rise.
Will this step completely fix the issue of period poverty?
The most straightforward answer to that is no. Although it’s a great step by India’s Government, it’s unlikely that the removal of this tax will completely solve the issue of girls dropping out of school when they get their periods. Despite the removal of this period tax, menstrual products still remain unaffordable to women belonging to the lower rungs of the socioeconomic ladder. Further, period poverty is such a multifaceted issue where the answer lies in addressing a series of key challenges: affordability, accessibility to proper facilities (ie. restrooms and clean water), and in education about mensturation.
However, looking beyond those existing challenges, India has started a conversation about menstruation amongst menstruators and non-menstruators everywhere, highlighting how important it is to talk about periods for the advancement of the country as a whole. This story has inspired and touched the hearts of activists everywhere.
If you want to help with a similar cause, click here to sign our petition to remove the luxury tax placed on menstrual products in California! Our goal is to reach 100,000 signatures in a month and we need your support to make that happen!!
