Though the enrollment of girls in schools have increased over the years, the dropout rate of girls after primary education remains high. According to latest Child Rights and You(CRY), only 1 in 3 school going children in our country finish class 12 at an appropriate age. In India the majority of  dropouts fall under the age group of 12-15yrs. By a report released by NFHS(National Family Health Survey), only 36% of the women use sanitary pads and over 23 million girls drop their schooling after puberty. Being 'impure', the girl is isolated/ forced to dropout of schools as their access to sanitary napkins are over the odds (such cases are very high in rural areas).Not only parents but the girls themselves feel uncomfortable coming to school, this is also due to lack of proper infrastructure for the sanitary-waste disposal in schools.

This rise in dropout rate is also due to lack of awareness on the topic of menstruation as it is always surrounded by taboos and myths. Period, to many, means disgust, shame and embarrassment. Whereas it actually symbolizes strength, pride and  empowerment.

 The literacy rate was low in India before the introduction of "mid-day meal " scheme.(when poor couldn't afford for food). After the introduction of this scheme,India saw a steep rise in the literacy rate(still increasing).

Similarly,

I request Government of India, to take proper initiative to provide free and quality sanitary pads  in government schools (giving special attention to rural areas) along with proper awareness and quality sanitary-waste disposal system. 'WE', India will surely see a progessive decline in the dropout rate of girls after their primary education.

"Every girl has the right to a sanitary napkin like she has the right to a toilet. We need more conversations around Periods for the right kind of awareness, to break the stigma and make period what it is - a normal female body function. Let us stop our young girls from dropping out of school after their 1st Period"  -Bhumi(actress)                                              

#Right_to_bleed #Right_to_education #Right_to_empowerment

G.V.Sankhya shree, Siddharth.D, Neethya.L