Any Delhi student will tell you that missing a day of school because of a bad period is no stranger to them. The government has decided to put an end to that. They have put out a call for a school-wide effort on everything from hygiene to the HPV vaccine and having a pad when you need one, with some hard-nosed accountability to back it up.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta made her case during a video call with principals and top education brass on World Menstrual Hygiene Day. Her message was to treat menstruation for what it is – a biological fact – so a student can get the help they need and keep to their studies without any second-guessing.
What changes for students and schools
No more half-measures. Schools are being told to put in place proper ‘menstruation corners’ stocked with napkins, undergarments and the like. And while they’re at it, make sure the medical room is in order and put in some vending machines in the restrooms, fast.
To be clear on what is expected, here is what schools are to put first:
– Toilets in good order, with any broken doors fixed
– Vending machines that work
– A medical room that is actually functional
– Some room for open talk
– Hygiene drives for both boys and girls
The government has also been on top of the usual gripes about run-down toilets. From now on, regular upkeep is not up for debate; we don’t want a student having to pick between being in class and being in a spot of discomfort.
Health education and outreach
We will be beefing up the way we teach this in classes 6 through 9, with a focus on the kind of know-how that is of use. And it doesn’t stop at the school gate – ASHA and anganwadi workers will be in the field to make sure the word gets out to families as well.
At the Arogya Mandirs, you can expect to cover the likes of anaemia, PCOS and cervical cancer in addition to the HPV jab. We want to put minds at ease and let learning happen, not just for a show but for the whole year.
HPV vaccination push with consent
Gupta has been on to parents to have their daughters vaccinated and for schools to be the ones to spread the word. But she was firm on one point: you can’t do it without the family’s say-so. That puts the parent in the driver’s seat while the school does its part to inform.
It’s a two-pronged way of dealing with any false information out there and making sure the choice for preventive care is an informed one.
Accountability, supplies, and next steps
Part of the 'Menstrual Health Matters‘ drive means someone will be on top of the pad vending machines in schools, offices and public facilities to see they are in working order and have stock. The state is also on the hook for seeing that good, biodegradable pads are available city-wide.
All of this was laid down in a meeting at the Jan Seva Sadan with Education Minister Ashish Sood, Director of Education Vedita Reddy and others in attendance. Sood put it plainly: this is about dignity and self-assurance, and it is central to how we look after our students.
Come the end of the summer break, the government has said it will be handing out free bicycles to girls. It’s another way to support them and make it less of a hassle to be in school as we put these new services in place.
What comes next for schools
Principals are to foster an environment where a child can come forward and be helped. With the right mix of infrastructure, some good old-fashioned education and the push for vaccines, the goal is simple: a school where a student can learn in peace, without any of the shame or unease, and where every kid is in a safer, better place.
