girlKozhikode: One of the challenges that many women are facing at this time is the disposal of sanitary napkins. Many girls living in the town reported that they dispose off the cotton inside a pad into the toilet and burn the plastic covering. But during the time of monsoon, the closets overflow and burning things in open places is impossible. For bedridden people and children, even diapers with faeces and urine are sometimes put along with the inorganic waste, a cleaning worker in the corporation revealed the struggles they face.

Countless pads

Even a house with two women will get at least 20-25 pads a month. The population was 30,86,293 at the 2011 census. Of the 16,15,351 women, 10,39,996 were between the ages of 10 and 50. If you use at least 10 pads a month during menstruation, it will come to over one crore. 

 

Putting all these together and burning them can cause health problems. Plastic and the gel in the pads are made of toxic gases. Studies show that it takes at least 500-800 years to degrade in soil. Plastic is non-biodegradable in fact.

Those who are in the cities have no choice but to burn them. Some of the flats offer amenities. But in the village area, they burn it mostly. Careless disposal of napkins is one of the main reasons for the blockage of sewages, creeks and canals in many places. This can also be seen in the garbage piled up in the bypass.

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sanitary pad
The new generation is shifting to menstrual cups and cotton pads now. The cups can be washed, reused and kept clean. Cotton pads can also be washed and reused. It can be buried as well. Being a doctor and a corporation councillor, Dr P N Ajitha, said the pads should be stored and disposed off separately in schools and flats or else can cause health problems. Also, people should utilise the available, eco-friendly and reusable products.

‘Take a break’ project

The local bodies are installing incinerators in schools. The DDE VP Mini said that facilities have been provided in most of the schools. No one knows what is the current situation as schools have been closed for two years. Colleges also have essential facilities. Menstrual awareness team Redcycle says that 53% of children do not have access to menstrual-related amenities.

As a part of the government's ‘Take a Break’ programme, the district currently has facilities for napkin disposal along with toilets at nine locations and is implementing it in 38 locations, said District Sanitation Mission Co-ordinator M.S. Mini. Panchayats can allot a certain percentage of the amount for women-friendly schemes. Many local bodies have initiated such steps.