For the world we are a developing country making its mark in all the different fields of life. However even though our country is blessed with its excellence , the dogma surrounding our culture discredits all our achievements.

Even after being a country of such diversity, giving equal rights to all, being the first constitution allowing women the right to vote, we are still the same country that shies away from feminine health and hygiene.

There is a taboo surrounding periods in India. It is supposed to be a concealed affair. Mothers are not able to freely talk to their daughters about periods because it is supposed to be such a hush hush affair.

Due to this gap in knowledge a lot of women have become susceptible to grave health problems. Women in the subcontinent have traditionally used cloths and pads, with tampons being scarcely found, mainly among the younger generation and the menstrual cup in India being almost non-existent.

There is a huge stigma surrounding menstruation, one of the reasons why girls in India are not able to get property sanitary products. They have to rely on cloth pieces since those are the only products at their disposal. A large number of women, because of not having proper sanitation products, need to drop out of school or work commitments, because of the fear of their clothes getting stained.

It is only now that the government has begun to understand the need of the hour and how important it is to pay attention to feminine hygiene. The menstrual hygiene program by the National Health Commission combines health education for adolescent girls, providing a regular supply of sanitary napkins and enabling other sanitation measures such as access to water and toilets in schools and in the community through convergence with other programmes.

This is a step in the right direction but it is a long way towards redemption. Which can only be achieved with the determination and effort from all members of society. A healthy woman provides for a healthy generation, and a happy nation.