Keypoints:
- The period rooms were built by Recycle bin to address the needs of women living in slum regions.
- The TMC in coordination with an NGO come up with a concept of ‘Period Room’ to help ladies in slums to handle their periods.
A period room within the community toilet has been introduced by the Thane Civic Body in coordination with a Non Government Organisation (NGO) for the first time. This great idea was brought into the society after a survey conducted in Thane slum areas covering around 1000 women, which brought into limelight the difficulties they face during menstruation.
The survey was carried out by Muse Foundation and according to the report, it has been noticed that women in slum areas find really difficult to manage their periods and which is why the idea of ‘period room’ was proposed by the NGO to TMC.
The deputy commissioner of Thane Municipal Corporation, Manish Joshi said that, “A survey has been conducted in Thane through 2019 to study women’s menstrual hygiene practices covering 1000 women in 15 slums in Thane. The primary findings of the survey revealed the heavy dependency of women in slums on community toilet and the problems they faced to manage menstruation due to lack of water, unsafe changing rooms, absence of disposal mechanism for soiled napkins.”
The Period Room consists of better water supply with Jetspray, mirror, dustbin with a lid at bottom that saves anyone from directly touching the soiled sanitary napkins, soap dispenser, hooks to hang cloths and a urinal for convenience. The room has been designed by Recycle bin keeping with needs of women living in slum areas.
The Muse Foundation’s survey brought into limelight that 56% of school going girls have to come back home to change their menstrual hygiene products as they had unclean toilets in the institutions.
Around 18% of women who work did not have any provision to change their hygiene products at their workplace.
Nishant Bangera, founder, MUSE Foundation, said, “We will be conducting a sensitisation programme in the community, to educate women about the room and safe menstrual hygiene practices. The wall of the community toilet has been colourfully painted to invoke joy in people, thus promoting sanitation. The wall also promotes sustainable menstruation with essential points listed on it.”
