Our country is home to more than 35 crores of menstruating women, and this is one of the highest population of menstruating women in the world. But shockingly, only 18% of these women use sanitary napkins while approximately 82% of the others use unsafe and unhygienic methods such as old clothes, rags, hay and even ash during their period.
The Niine Movement, a 5-year plan, aims to remove the stigma surrounding menstruation. The name refers to the nine months of pregnancy before the birth of a child. "We all start in the womb for 9 months and are cared for and looked after by our mothers before and after our births. It is a bond that is unbreakable and therefore their health and wellbeing should be paramount," says Amar Tulsiyan, the founder of the Movement.
We had the opportunity to talk with Amar Tusliyan about his campaign and future plans.
Was there a particular event that made you start this initiative?
- As someone with four sisters, menstruation was never talked about in our house and that was something that has always stayed with me. It is a natural thing to happen and yet we are pretending it doesn’t exist and ultimately isolating girls as a result. From this, I realised how important the topic of menstruation has to be and the essential need for hygienic and sanitary products for women to use. I wanted to reach out to the 82% that do not use sanitary napkins, to give them the education and awareness that they need and deserve.
What really made me realise how serious and harrowing this can be was when I heard the story of Bholi, a young 12-year-old girl who was told to stay in the barn during her period and as a result, caught an infection after using some hay, which ultimately led to her uterus being removed, leaving her unable to bear a child had she chosen to. Whilst infertility is an extreme outcome of improper menstrual hygiene practices, just knowing the impact of menstrual hygiene on the health of females acted as an impetus for me to want to address this and do my part to make a difference so that we can prevent these unnecessary and preventable things happening to so many girls and women.
How did you get Akshay Kumar & Shabana Azmi on board with your project?
- Both Akshay Ji and Shabana Ji are very vocal about the topic of women’s health and menstruation in a society that isn’t. As two icons of cinema, their voices would be heard from across the country and I knew they would be the perfect supporters for the campaign.
Akshay Ji’s award-winning film Pad Man, tackled the issue of the menstrual taboo. He spent time to understand and realise the difficulties women faced when it came to the topic of periods.
I’m delighted they will grace the inaugural Niine Menstrual Awareness Conclave to mark International Menstrual Hygiene Day on 28th May and to have their support. The event convenes renowned film personalities, academics, policymakers, government officials, activists, medical experts, business stalwarts, NGOs, and thought-leaders, to discuss the impact that stigma and taboos have had on menstruation, which have held girls and women back for centuries from achieving their potential and living a life of respect and dignity. The Niine Menstrual Awareness Conclave aims to provide an essential platform focusing on collaboration, innovation and cooperation to assess, plan and put into action sustainable solutions to tackling menstrual issues across India, with the support of leading change-makers.
Alongside the Niine Movement, Akshay Ji supported the nationwide campaign #18to82 to bridge the gap between the minority – 18% - that are able to adopt hygienic practices and the large majority – 82% - who are not able to make an informed choice in these matters.
What is your long-term plan for this movement?
- By 2030, we aim to have established many cooperative and strong partnerships at all levels of society. We plan to engage governments, corporates, media, talents and other institutions to help create a sustained impact. We are confident of encouraging India to come together to promote a better and brighter future for women and our society. At its core, Niine is a Movement of change for all females in India, driven by its vision for a new and better ‘Swachh Bharat’. “Swachh Bharat ki Shuruwat Humse, Hum Swachh Toh Bharat Swachh.”
In addition to this, we have introduced the Niine app, which will be giving women a voice and a chance for them to share their menstrual insights and experiences with one another, without the threat of judgment or violence. Girls and women can participate in polls addressing burning questions and discuss topics they would be normally scared to talk about.
The app also monitors issue such as if a female has had a delayed period and reminds them to seek medical advice in case of any hormonal issues. Doing this will help them feel more connected and secure with their bodies, boosting their confidence after years of being shunned for something so normal.
The Niine Movement team conducts workshops and other campaigns to bring awareness to the masses about menstruation, while also providing affordable menstrual hygiene products to help bridge the gap from 18 percent to 82 percent.