Young girls like Pramila are leading change in their community.
Watch her story on how she is breaking the menstruation taboo.
#YouthDay2020 #DignifiedMenstruation
I am Pramila and I am 17 years old. I belong to a Dalit family. I had my first menstruation at the age of 16. I have heard that girls were forced to stay at the menstrual shed and faced different problems during menstruation. I heard in the news that adolescent girls were bound to stay in dark sheds with fear of snakes.
But, I was kept in a safe place nearby my house. It didn’t bother me staying at that place.
I was studying in grade 8 when I joined a child club. I participated in programs organized by the child club. One day, I met a staff of the organization. I asked her to organize training in our village to aware people on Chhaupadi (menstruation taboo). Then, she conducted an awareness-raising program related to menstruation in my village. I also started raising my voice against menstruation taboo along with her.
Once, I tried to convince my friend that we should not be following Chhaupadi practice. My friend replied, "how can you suggest others not to follow Chahaupadi, if you are doing the same? Her words touched me. I thought I was blessed because my brother is educated, and my mother was also knowledgeable. I was also aware of menstruation, so I was not kept away from home like my friends.
I was kept at the balcony that was a safe place in my home, so, I didn’t feel that I practised Chhaupadi. But, then I realized it was also a form of discrimination. I could not sleep for whole night. Then, I shared my friend's saying to my mother. I told her, about my activities in child club for raising awareness against Chaupadi, but I myself was following Chaupadi unknowingly. So, I was determined to stay inside my own room during the menstrual period.
It was one of my menstruation periods, when I heard the news that a 12 years girl and 2 women died of snakebite during their stay at the menstrual shed. The incident made me feel miserable and I get stubborn to say inside the room.
Menstruation is not a sin. It is nature's gift. I started to convince my friends after I realized that we should not take it as a problem. WOREC conducted programs after forming the adolescent girls' group and women's group. I was also elected as a president of adolescent girls' group. We have a monthly meeting on the first Saturday of each month. We conduct various awareness-raising programs on harmful traditional practices through street drama, orientations, interactions and door to door visits. Now, even my friends can open up. Society is also gradually changing. I feel confident that I can bring changes in the society.