Path to positive periods

Sep-29-2019...

It was end of weak, but beginning of my vision. Woke up in pleasant morning and for unknown reason, my heart surrounded with utmost peace which is more pleasant than morning itself. According to plan, i pick all the stuff, sanitary napkins, colour chalks, powerpoint, handouts and started my  journey.

While traveling i had many questions how to start, how to proceed the talk...my hearts only answer is "swecha, you can." I trusted my gut instinct and arrived destination 'amodini girls complex, vijayawada'  along with a volunteer. Its our first day event of SWECHA - An awareness program on menstrual hygiene. As we took permission and time slot from home earlier, they arranged a meeting hall for the program. On my request black  board too got its position in center of hall. Around 100 girl students of different ages ranging from 11-16  enlightened hall with their gracious presence. 

I greeted them and insisted them to call me sister and got affectionate greetings in return which added fuel to my voice. On introducing the topic, i hear a quick buzz that settled in a minute. I begin with swecha why we choose the name i.e., Freedom, freedom to talk about menstruation and hygiene management to gift them freedom to achieve goals. Everyone showed keen attention to my words and i felt sense of strong connection. I interacted with girls on puberty, menstruation and detailed importance of maintaining health and hygiene. 

From the group of young girls, one girl asked "Why  were we asked not to touch anyone during menstruation?"  and the question followed several questions "Why were we instructed not to touch pickels?" " Why were we treated as untouchables?" "Why were we not treated as normal when you said it is quite normal?". Yes these are things they wanted to know. Its a good sign as girls felt need to be answered.

So i asked them" How do you feel during periods?". Response from a girl made me feel worse "When i go home after long gap, during periods i feel uneasy with pain and different due to sitting in a corner sister". I managed to smile and composed words out of grief " let me narrate you a story.. story that took place long ago. Those were ancient days when families were big and women were meant for cooking food to family with strength 50 or so, involving in household operations and even farming too. Even the ages are different, menstruation is same and how we feel now is exactly what women at that time too felt- pain in lower abdomen, backache, headache and most importantly need to be rested and taken care of. So women were asked not to touch any object, not to involve in any operation, any work. They were just insisted to take rest and eat healthy. Imagine the relief women found during menstruation due to lack of work. Women were  insisted not to touch pickels as spicy food cause burning sensation in stomach. Women were asked not to come out as bleeding may cause staining remember there were no pads or such aids to manage flow. And with time everything changed. Now women are not confined to kitchen but rule entire nation. Women are not confined to sitting in a corner but to succeed in every corner of world. We have many aids to manage blood flow and hence attending schools, offices even parliment. But still those instructions made then were still rooted in our walls. Menstruation became a taboo. Now after knowing the reason, what you think about yourself is more important than what others think about u, how you treat yourself is most important than how others treat you. Don't mind discriminations as those were made to take care of you, but lost their essence due to lack of awareness. Girls, did you see moon and how it looks every night? Moon completes cycle from full moon to full moon. Their was a saying that moon cycle is synchronized with womens menstrual cycle. Women used to get periods during no moon days and all used to gather at a place to comfort one another just like we gathered now. We may not get periods at a time but we do have to go through this precious cycle. So lets hug ourselves and wish great courage to overcome negative thoughts that were rooted. Lets support our sisters in gaining positive orientation towards periods by saying i am with you, i too bleed. Don't get de-motivated as you are the motivation. And how do you feel now?"

"Proud" "Happy" "Good" echoed in the hall and vibrated in my heart. Yes i am concerned in creating positive period attitude from young age. This is actual happiness when you see your vision in reality.

 Volunteer of SWASA expressed their opinion-  "We are pleased with interest shown by girl students in learning about menstruation and  hygiene management". After instruction and interaction, program continued as distribution of sanitary napkins and mini handouts to the girls. It was pleasant experience than the morning and peace. At the end of session response from one girl students in just one word- INSPIRING...HER word encourages our sprit...


-Dasu Rama Sri Vineela...