“Assembly too holy a place to discuss a letera cheez (dirty thing).” These were the exact words uttered by Lokam Tassar, an Arunachal Pradesh MLA from the BJP, when a discussion was supposed to be held on a proposed bill on granting a day’s leave to school and college students who are menstruating.
On 11 March, MLA Ninong Ering from the Congress party introduced his private member’s bill, which was focused on granting menstrual leave to school and college-going girls as menstruation is very taxing and exhausting, especially on the first day. He further stated that this step would encourage women to become more dedicated and driven in their work.
However, what followed was a slew of patriarchal and regressive statements from fellow MLAs who brought up various taboos and myths as examples to justify why menstruation is a “dirty thing” and cannot be discussed in a sacred place like the State Assembly.
MLAs pointed out that in the Nyishi tribe, menstruating women were not even allowed to stay inside their houses or come close to anyone. They cannot use the kitchen or even come near it. Women are not even allowed to sit alongside men and have their food when menstruating.
Access to period leave and period products are a part of health and sanitation, a basic human right for a dignified life. Discriminating against menstruators claiming that they are impure or unclean will not put any state on the path to real progress.
But it seems like basic demands like these fall to the deaf ears of some of our political leaders. Our leaders, who are supposed to be our representatives in the State Assemblies and the Parliament, are responsible for every statement that they make and every thought that they believe. They are the harbingers of reforms and changes in our society.
If they make such regressive comments, then it becomes difficult to make the common people understand that menstruation is as basic a biological process as any other body function.