A directive was issued by Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan for schools to keep a separate classroom for the sessions, even mothers will be given lessons on menstrual health
Girls of classes 7-8 of schools affiliated to Gujarat board will now get special sessions on menstrual health. The regional state project director of Sarva Shiskha Abhiyan has issued a directive to district primary officer asking schools to keep a separate classroom for the sessions. Students will be given information about the menstrual cycle, hygiene and self-care tips.
Interestingly, the directive also allows mothers of the girls to attend the sessions. "It is important for the girls of class 7-8 to know in detail about menstrual health and hygiene. The initiative is being conducted by Khimji Ramdas Private Limited which is the Indian venture for distribution of Proctor & Gamble products and a meeting was held with primary education officers. Along with the girls, even their mothers will have to remain present", the circular said.
When DNA asked the minister of state for education Vibhavari Dave about the same, she said, "We have no idea about the directive. It has been issued by the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan project head and has not yet come to me. Once I get the file, only then I will be able to comment."
For many girls schools in the city, educating girls on menstrual hygiene has come voluntarily. FD High School for Girls in Jamalpur has been hosting special sessions for class 9 girls for many years now. Says Anisha Shaikh, Principal, FD High School for Girls in Jamalpur, "We have tied up with two NGO's who conduct workshops with our girls on hygiene regularly. We also have a team of doctors who regularly visit the school to make students aware of myths and hygiene."
Lauding the state government's decision, Aditi Gupta, Founder of Menstrupedia, a guide to explain menstruation and issues surrounding it says, "It is a great start even if it is a delayed start and will go in a long way if implemented strategically." She, however, fears its implementation. "There are many central government programmes as well but the issue is with implementation. Teachers who will teach girls on menstrual health should be trained first. Many of them come with a pre-conceived notion. While there is some material in textbooks but somehow teachers skip those.
Also, information in textbooks is half-baked with some incomplete diagrams. This special programme, hopefully, help many girls in the state."
Commenting on the same, Mahesh Mehta, District Primary Education Officer said, "We have introduced sanitary napkin vending machines in four of our girls' school – Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya."
DNA attempted to speak with Jayshree Devangan, regional state project director of SSA, but she did not respond.
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