A full stop, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• The Supreme Court has included the right to menstrual health and hygiene as a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution.
• The Court's judgment emphasizes providing functional toilets, menstrual products, water, and disposal mechanisms to ensure bodily autonomy for girls.
• The Court termed the lack of access to menstrual products and facilities as 'menstrual poverty', which hinders girls' education.
• States and UTs must ensure functional, gender-segregated toilets in every school, with punitive action for non-compliance, including derecognition for private schools.

Detailed Insights:

• The judgment addresses the gendered inequity leading to a lack of access to healthcare products, clean water, and toilets during menstruation.
• While NFHS-5 data indicates that 77.3% of women aged 15-24 use hygienic methods during menstruation, nearly a quarter still lack support.
• The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has developed guidelines for menstrual hygiene management, but implementation in rural areas has been inconsistent.
• The Court's intervention provides an opportunity to erase the stigma around menstruation through policy and financial commitment, enabling girls and women to achieve their full potential.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Article 21: Guarantees the right to life and personal liberty, now expanded to include menstrual health and hygiene.
• Menstrual Poverty: Lack of access to sanitary products, hygiene facilities, and menstrual health education.
• Bodily Autonomy: The right of individuals to control their own bodies and make decisions about their health and well-being.