Breaking the Cloth Barrier: Encouraging Safe Menstrual Practices in Rural India

In the faraway lands of rural India, a silent revolution is slowly coming to life.

- PRACHI KAUSHIK

Behind those closed doors, young women in the count of millions are making a critical choice that affects their health, future, and dignity. The decision might seem simple, to choose between a piece of cloth and a sanitary pad. Yet it is one of the biggest challenges in India that people find hard to address.

According to recent data, 89.37% of urban women aged 15–24 use hygienic menstrual products. However, only 72.32% of their rural villages have access to the same basic necessities. This 17-percentage-point gap seems very small. But this translates to millions of women who continue to rely on unsafe alternatives, perpetuating cycles of infection and shame.

Progress Amid Persistent Challenges

The journey toward menstrual equity in rural India tells a story of remarkable progress, which only took place due to shadowed traditions.

According to the National Family Health Survey-5, data shows impressive results: sanitary napkin usage among rural women aged 15–24 surged from 33.6% to 58.9% between 2015–16 and 2019–21, looks like a small change of 25% point, however shows a dramatic increment of 75.3% of women adapting to safe and hygienic sanitary methods.