At a time when ‘menstruation’, the usual taboo subject, is being discussed openly and associated with women empowerment, only a handful of higher education institutions in the State have made even basic arrangements to help girls.
According to a study done by Varghese Mathew, principal, Little Flower Institute of Social Sciences and Health (LISSAH), Kaithapoyil, only around 15% of arts and science colleges affiliated to Calicut University have installed napkin vending machines and incinerator facilities on their campuses. A random enquiry at institutions under other universities has shown that the situation is no better in the rest of the State.
Prof. Varghese undertook the study after a student representative at LISSAH demanded that a vending machine and an incinerator be set up on the campus. The student, Asha Maria Joseph, cited the difficulties facing girls and women staff at the college in procuring napkins.
The study said only 39 out of the 254 colleges under the university had the facilities. “I came to know that most incinerators were out of order, and that the managements had taken no interest in repairing them,” Prof. Varghese said.
He has brought the issue to the notice of the Kerala Women’s Commission and has written to the Ministry of Women and Child Development demanding that the facility be made mandatory on campuses across the country. “We are planning to set up the facilities at LISSAH. But we need to ensure that napkins dispensed through the machine are made of eco-friendly materials. We plan to manufacture napkins using clothes at affordable rates,” Prof. Varghese added.