A 12-year-old girl jumped from the terrace of her house in Tirunelveli recently on being reprimanded by her teacher as her uniform was ‘stained’. The girl’s uniform got stained in her school due to her menstrual bleeding.

The menstrual cycle for a woman is a natural process and there is nothing to feel ashamed of. It is a healthy process, says Shobana Chandrasekhar, Convener, MOB Project.

“Teachers and caretakers of the girl children should be sensitised what menstruation is all about. Every school should have a counsellor or a teacher to support the girl children during menstruation,” Shobana told The Covai Post.

“It has been scientifically proven that the bleeding that happens during the cycle is just similar to the one when we cut our finger while using a knife. The child should have easy access to clean and hygenic toilet and sanitary products. She should be allowed to go out the class whenever it is required. It is natural process and no body can control it,” Shobana added.

According to her, a number of girls skip schools during the cycle, due to an insecured feeling that they cannot take care of themselves. “Every school should have designated teacher to deal with these and to extend support to the girls. The Education Department should initiate mandatory programme for every teacher in helping the children during puberty. The children should be taught that it is all due to hormonal changes.”

Schools should be educate the girls about reusable pads “as they can carry them to school everyday. They can use it for many days by washing it. They can also understand the changes in their body after using this pad. It is cost effective as well as eco-friendly” she added.