पुरुष आणि मासिक पाळी

मासिक पाळी हा शब्दच चारचौघात महिला-मुलीनी  उच्चारणे म्हणजे महापाप असा अलिखित नियम समाजात रूढ असताना एखाद्या पुरुषाने मासिक पाळी बद्दल चारचौघात बोलणे  तर दुरापास्तच. समाजात आज सुद्धा स्त्रीच्या मासिक पाळी संदर्भात अनेक  गैरसमज व अंधश्रद्धा आहेत. काही दिवसांपूर्वी घडलेल्या एका घटनेचा इथे आवर्जून उल्लेख केला पाहिजे खरतर त्या आठवणीने सुद्धा अस्वस्थ व्हायला होते. बहिणीला आलेल्या  मासिक पाळी बद्दल गैरसमज करून घेतल्याने भावाने बहिणीचा जीव घेतला. अज्ञान माणसाला किती खोल गर्तेत घेऊन जाते हे या घटनेवरून स्पष्ट होते. देवाचा कोप या संकल्पने पासून सुरु झालेली अंधश्रद्धा शरीर संबंध झाल्याने रक्तस्त्राव होतोय असे समजून पाळी आलेल्या मुलीचा जीव जाई पर्यंत असू शकते. आजही बऱ्याच धर्मांमध्ये स्त्रीला मासिक पाळीच्या काळात अपवित्र मानलं जातं. आधुनिक वैज्ञानिक युगा मध्ये आजही मासिक पाळी संदर्भात समाजात इतकी अंधश्रद्धा का आहे याचा  विविध अनुषंगाने  विचार होणे आवश्यक आहे. 

वस्ती पातळीवर महिलांसाठी मासिक पाळी या विषयावर संवाद साधणे हे तर मोठे कौशल्याचे काम. सामूहिक सभेत  संवाद साधताना  एक महत्वाची गोष्ट लक्षात आली ती म्हणजे महिला आणि मुलींना अजूनही स्त्रीच्या शारीरिक रचने बद्दल पूर्ण माहिती असतेच असे नाही किंबहुना तशी माहिती मिळवण्याचा प्रयत्न करणाऱ्यांचे प्रमाण देखील कमी आहे.  जसे कान-नाक-डोळे-हात-पाय हे शरीराचे अवयव आहेत तसेच इतर भागांचा समावेश देखील अवयव म्हणूनच होतो या बद्दलच मुख्यतः अनभिज्ञता आहे. मासिक पाळी म्हणजे काहीतरी नवी समस्या, त्रास असून हा संभ्रम अगदी आयुष्यभर जोपासला जातो. महिलांची स्वतःच्या शरीराबाद्दलची गत जर अशी असेल तर मासिक पाळी समजुती बद्दलची  पुरुषांची स्थिती किती बिकट असेल याचा विचार न केलेलाच बरा. आज पर्यंत पुरुषांनी या बाबत जास्त माहिती न घेतल्याने स्त्रियांच्या मासिक पाळी बद्दल पुरुषांच्या मनात अनेक गैरसमज आहेत. तसेच याबाबतचे किती आणि कोणते स्त्रोत पुरुषांपर्यंत माहिती घेऊन पोहचले आहेत हे जाणून घेणे देखील तितकेच महत्वाचे वाटले. आणि यातूनच   वस्ती मधील पुरुषांसोबत आणि वयात येणाऱ्या तरुण मुलां बरोबर  मासिक पाळी संदर्भात संवाद साधायचे आणि नक्की या मुलांच्या डोक्यात या विषयी काय चालू आहे हे शोधायचे ठरले. 

पुरुषांना मासिक पाळीची बरोबर माहिती देणे गरजेचे आहे

पुण्यातील वस्त्यांमध्ये यासाठी संवाद साधण्यास सुरवात केली. या  विषयावर महिला, मुलींसोबत चर्चा करणे हे तरुणमुले व पुरुषांसोबत चर्चा करण्यापेक्षा सोपे असते. त्यांच्याशी संवाद साधताना मुळातच सुरवात कोठून करायची असा प्रश्न असतो. चर्चेसाठी खूप औपचारिक वातावरण तयार केले तर बहुतेकवेळा तरुण चर्चेला थांबतच नाहीत, मग अनुभव सांगणे हे तर फारच दूर. म्हणून शक्य तितके अनौपचारिक वातावरण तयार करून त्यांच्या सोबत चर्चा घडवण्यात आली.  मासिक पाळी म्हणजे काय? याविषयी एकतर  पुरुषांनी  आपसात  उघडपणे  चर्चा  करणे  अत्यंत अवघड आहे. सहाजिकच  या विषयावर तरुणांशी संवाद साधायला सुरुवात केल्यावर पहिली प्रतिक्रिया आली “ अहो  सर आपण दुसऱ्या विषयावर बोलूयात ” . जी  तरुणमुले  शाळा आणि महाविद्यालयात शिकत आहेत त्यांना सुद्धा स्त्रीला मासिक पाळी का येते याची शास्त्रीय माहिती नसते. बायकांच्या पोटात प्रत्येक महिन्याला काही तरी तयार होतं आणि ते सर्व घाणीच्या स्वरूपात प्रत्येक महिन्याला शरीरा बाहेर पडत असत. यातूनच शरीरातील अशुद्ध/ दूषित रक्त शरीरा बाहेर पडत ही भ्रामक कल्पना पुढे आली.

चर्चे दरम्यान तरुणांना मासिक पाळी संदर्भात माहिती मिळण्याचे स्त्रोत काय आहेत हे शोधण्याची उत्सुकता शिगेला पोहोचली होती. त्यांच्या बरोबर संवाद साधताना तुम्हाला शाळेत अथवा महाविद्यालयात मासिक पाळी आरोग्याबद्दल माहिती देत असतील ना? असा प्रश्न विचारल्यावर तरुणांकडून आलेले उत्तर मात्र पूर्णपणे बुचकळ्यात टाकणारे होते. शाळेत अथवा महाविद्यालयात वैयक्तिक आरोग्या संबंधी माहिती दिली जाते, परंतु त्यामध्ये मुलांना स्त्रीच्या मासिक पाळी वैगरे संबंधी काहीही माहिती दिली जात नाही. मुलींसाठी वेगळे माहिती सत्र असल्याने त्यांना कदाचित ही माहिती देण्यात येत असावी असे मत बहुतेक तरुणानी व्यक्त केले.  शैक्षणिक संस्थेतच ही माहिती तरुणांना देणे टाळले जात असेल तर स्त्रीच्या मासिक पाळी आणि आरोग्या संबंधी जागरूकता कशी निर्माण होणार? मूळ स्त्रोताकडून माहिती देणे नाकारले गेल्याने मुले त्यांच्या शालेय जीवनापासून माहिती मिळविण्याच्या उत्सुकतेपोटी विविध स्त्रोत शोधण्यास सुरवात करतात. हे स्त्रोत अचूक आणि शास्त्रीय दृष्टीकोनातून माहिती देणारे असतातच असे नाही. या उलट काहीवेळा  मुलांच्या मनात जास्तच गोंधळ निर्माण होतो परिणामी  त्याचे रूपांतर अशास्त्रीय दृष्टीकोनातं होऊन हिंसात्मक कृत्यांचा जन्म होतो.

शेल्टर ससोसिएट्स आणि Muse Foundation आयोजित मासिका महोत्सवात पुरुषही सहभागी

मासिक पाळी सुरु होण्याचे वय या संदर्भात सुद्धा वस्तीमधील युवकांना माहिती नसल्याचे निदर्शनास आले. अठराव्या वर्षी मुलीचे रूपांतर बाई मध्ये होते म्हणून मुलींना मासिक पाळी वयाच्या अठराव्या वर्षी येते असे बहुतेक युवकांचे मत होते. पाळी म्हणजे काहीतरी घाणेरडा प्रकार असतो कारण तेव्हा शरीरातील दूषित रक्त बाहेर टाकले जाते आणि त्यामुळे खूप आजार पसरू शकतात असाही गैरसमज असतो. पोटामध्ये महिनाभर दूषित रक्त जमा होते आणि मग महिन्याभराने  ते शरीरा बाहेर टाकले जाते आणि ते बाहेर जाणेच  चांगले कारण त्यामुळे शरीरातील रक्त शुद्ध होते…अशा कित्येक भ्रामक कल्पना आहेत. खरे पाहता योग्य वेळी या संदर्भात मार्गदर्शन मिळाले तर असा गैरसमज होण्याची वेळच येणार नाही. घरामध्ये आईची किंवा बहिणीची होणारी चिडचिड समजू शकली नाही याचे कारण घरामध्ये कधीही मासिक पाळी आणि त्या वेळेची   स्त्रियांची  मानसिक स्थिती  या विषयी कधीच  बोलले गेले  नसल्याचे  युवकांनी सांगितले.

खरंतर पौंगडावस्थेत मुला-मुलींमध्ये होणारे शारीरिक बदल, आरोग्य, मासिक पाळी, त्यासाठी घ्यावयाची काळजी, स्वच्छता या सर्व मुद्यांवर मुलांबरोबर घरगुती पातळीवर मोकळेपणाने चर्चा होणे महत्वाचे व गरजेचे आहे . परंतु बरेचदा पालकांना याचे महत्व कळत नाही किंवा हा विषय चर्चा करण्यासारखा आहे असे देखील त्यांना वाटत नाही. वस्तीपातळीवर तर पालक घरामध्ये सर्वाना दोनवेळेचे जेवण मिळेल किंवा नाही अशा सारख्या प्रश्नात गुंतलेले असतात. म्हणजेच या प्रश्नावर सामाजिक आणि आर्थिक परिस्थितीचा देखील प्रभाव पडत असतो.

योग्य मार्गदर्शनाने पुरुष स्त्रियांना मासिक पाळीच्या वेळी आधार देऊ शकतात

योग्य स्त्रोतांद्वारे माहिती न मिळाल्याने साहजिकच उत्सुकतेपोटी तरुण अयोग्य स्त्रोतांच्या मार्गाने माहिती मिळवितात, जी त्यांच्या मानसिक आणि शारीरिक विकासासाठी घातक ठरू शकते. अश्लील साहित्य, ऐकीव माहिती हे त्यामधील प्रमुख स्त्रोत असल्याचे या युवकांकडून समजले. बऱ्याच वेळा तरुणांना त्यांच्या प्रेयसीकडून काही प्रमाणात माहिती समजते असे सुद्धा काही तरुणांनी सांगितले. परंतु प्रेयसीकडून समजलेली माहिती कितपत अचूक आहे या बद्दलही साशंकता आहे. कारण अजूनही शहरी वस्त्यांमध्ये स्त्रीच्या  मासिक पाळी संदर्भात अंधश्रद्धा आहेत.  महिलांसोबत शारीरिक आरोग्य, मासिक पाळी अशा विषयावर काम करणाऱ्या खंडीभर संस्था सध्या समाजात कार्यरत आहेत. पुण्यातील वस्त्यांमध्ये देखील विविध सामाजिक संस्था याप्रकारचे कार्य करत आहेत. तसेच  शासकीय पातळीवर देखील कार्यक्रम राबविले जातात . परंतु तरीही आजपर्यंत मासिक पाळी आणि स्त्रीचे शारीरिक  आरोग्य या संबंधी मोठ्याप्रमाणावर अंधश्रद्धा आणि गैरसमज  आहेत  याची जाणीव काम करताना होत आहे . शासकीय व सामाजिक संस्थां शास्त्रीय दृष्टिकोन विकसित करण्यात का कमी पडत आहेत हा एक महत्वाचा प्रश्नच आहे. वैयक्तिक आरोग्य आणि मासिक पाळी याविषयां संबंधी महिलांप्रमाणेच पुरुषां सोबत बरोबरीने काम व्हायला  पाहिजे पण  ते का होत नाही असे प्रश्न अनुत्तरीतच आहेत. मासिक पाळी व आरोग्य नियोजनामध्ये पुरुषांचा सहभाग असणे अत्यंत जरुरीचे असून याबाबत काम होणे आवश्यक आहे. आज पर्यंत केवळ कुतूहलापोटी तरी किती पुरुषांनी सॅनिटरी पॅड हातामध्ये घेऊन पहिला असेल का  याबद्दलही प्रश्नच आहे…

– मंगेश कदम, Mobilization Training Manager (शेल्टर ससोसिएट्स)

मंगेशचा व्यावसायिक समाजकार्य आणि विकास क्षेत्रातील १० पेक्षा जास्त वर्षांचा अनुभव. पत्रकारिता मधील बॅचलर पदवी, व्यावसायिक समाज कार्यातील मास्टर पदवी, तत्वज्ञानातील मास्टर पदवी, तत्वज्ञानातील डॉक्टर पदवी (सुरू आहे).

SUSTAINABLE MENSTRUATION

What if women stopped menstruating? The very world would cease to exist.. It’s a pathway to bring the most conscious beings called humans into existence. But ironically, any discussion on this beautiful natural phenomenon of the body is taboo, and has adversely impacted girls and women in our society for generations. 

Every month, 1.8 billion women across the world menstruate. Millions of these girls, women, transgender men and non-binary persons cannot manage their menstrual cycle in a dignified and healthy way. The onset of menstruation is a new phase of body and mind, but it often gets stigmatised and socially excluded. It is an unspoken subject; therefore, many women and girls are unaware of its functioning, leading to many misbeliefs. 

Why women suffer in silence?

The absorbent to collect menstrual blood differed as per the times. In ancient and mediaeval times, women were not using anything and their clothes soaked in the discharge.. There are references that they used to wear sweet-smelling herbs around their wrists and neck to lower the menstrual blood smell. There are references to using a Hoosier Sanitary Belt that they put around the waist. Since menstruation is associated with shame and taboo and women were considered untouchables during this cycle, they never discussed the proper absorbents to protect and ease the process. Even today, many women use an old cloth as absorbent and hide it from public view. It is kept in unhygienic conditions, dried in inadequate, or hidden under other material. This practice has created massive health issues for women. 

In the modern era, disposable sanitary pads were introduced. Such products have wood pulp, plastic, and many chemicals such as polypropylene and polyethylene to enable lick-free self-adhesive pads. Since it is a disposable product, women were relieved from the pain they have been through. But the fact remains that now female genitals are closely associated with loaded chemicals and plastic. It is harming not only the female body but also the mother earth. The entire content of disposable pads is plastic which takes approximately 500-800 years to disintegrate after disposal. Assuming one billion DSNs are disposed of yearly, handling menstrual waste becomes a colossal task. This also contributes to the waste crisis overall.

To resolve this issue, nowadays, incinerators have been introduced to burn used pads. Over the years, disposable pads have spoiled the soil, and the new innovation is now polluting the air. With burning, all the pollution goes into the air. The women and girls residing in low-income communities are more vulnerable as they don’t even have safe and private access to menstruation, so they often depend on public or community sanitation facilities in slum communities. 

It is time women living in slums break the shackles of misinformation and shame.

We at SA, rigorously work and advocate for home toilets. Our ‘One Home One Toilet ‘project has reached more than 26,500 households across seven cities of Maharashtra and has resolved this concern for many women and girls. Still, disposing of the used pads is an issue. It is observed that these pads get dumped in toilet windows or a toilet pan directly, resulting in choked drains and unhygienic health concerns for many. 

Considering all of it, Shelter Associates is committed to handling this crisis in a unique way. We are promoting sustainable menstruation in the communities we are working with.  breaking the taboos and celebrating it publicly. SA  especially focuses on young women and adolescent girls and invites them for in-depth workshops on menstrual health. Such workshops explain the basic body anatomy and reproductive organs and their functioning. Most of the time, it is observed that women are unaware of how their genitals are from the outside or inside. There is a discussion around various misbeliefs about menstruation that gets answered with scientific information in workshops. 

SA consciously tries to switch menstruating women from using hazardous disposal pads towards adopting sustainable and eco-friendly menstrual hygiene products such as biodegradable sanitary napkins, reusable cloth pads, and menstrual cups. 

 Women are introduced to eco-friendly menstrual hygiene products like menstrual cups and cloth pads

Milestones of this initiative: 

  • More than 2,200 women have switched to sustainable products such as biodegradable pads, cloth pads, and menstrual cups. 
  • Out of which, 600 women switched to using a menstrual cup, which means 5,76,000 pads are now saved from going to dumping sites while using this one cup. 
  • On average, one box of pad costs Rs. 50. These women have saved Rs. 28,80,000 for the next eight years. 
  • 529 women have used biodegradable products, which would take six to 12 months to decompose otherwise. 
  • 86 women have started using cloth pads, which means we saved pollution by stopping disposing of more than 10000 pads.  
  • Together they saved more than Rs. 1,00,000

Women and girls participated across cities to celebrate Menstrual Hygiene Day with SA!

We look forward to making each community achieve zero-waste menstruation. We hope this campaign reaches to more cities, states and eventually more nations. We need conscious actions towards making a difference in not only human lives but our environment as well. We are interdependent by nature, and it’s time to take action now to ensure synergy between all the living beings on our planet and who better than the woman to take the lead!

People across ages and genders came together to promote the need for safe menstruation!

– Blog is written by Dhanshree Gurav, Director (WASH), Shelter Associates

Dhanshree has been championing the right of women to access safe sanitation and sustainable menstruation since a decade. With a soul of an environmentalist, she applies the sustainability lens to all our sanitation related interventions.

MAPPING THE WILD

Hello everyone!

My name is Rohit Kalpande. I recently joined the NGO Shelter Associates as a Junior GIS analyst. The first month at this organisation was all about understanding and adapting to the work and my responsibilities. I was elated when I was asked to join the GIS team that was to visit Kotagiri, a beautiful hill station in the Nilgiris. I was very excited as this was going to be an enriching learning experience and an opportunity to collaborate with the Keystone Foundation. 

Keystone Foundation is a not-for-profit that has been working towards improving the well-being of indigenous people, local communities and the ecosystems that sustain them for the past 30 years. The foundation is committed to addressing environmental issues that worsen climate change, promoting gender equality by empowering women, and preserving traditional livelihood opportunities while safeguarding indigenous knowledge systems. Owing to our experience in spatial data mapping, we were roped in to undertake the mapping of 4 settlements in Kotagiri taluka. 

Every day at Kotagiri was a new experience for me. Even though the area, settlements and people were different, I observed that one thing remains constant – people are facing similar problems and are in dire need of effective solutions.  Meetings were conducted in every settlement where the process and usage of spatial maps were explained to the community and the Keystone staff members. I was pleased by the curiosity and excitement of the community. Over the week we carried out the mapping, numbering of structures and surveys. Our stint in Kotagiri ended with a presentation on the various maps produced and how it can be leveraged to trace patterns of wildlife and the living conditions of the community. They recognised the power of data and how it can be utilised to save the human and wildlife population. 

As a newbie in the GIS department, this was a complete eye-opener. I was able to understand the process of spatial data mapping and how it can contribute to real life problem solving. The pleasant weather and picturesque tea plantations were the icing on the cake. I look forward to the opportunity of gaining more exposure to spatial data mapping and witnessing the impact it has on improving people’s lives. 

-Rohit Kalpande, Junior GIS Analyst

Shelter Associates

LEARNING MIXED WITH FUN AT THIS YEAR’S AVNI SPRINT IN GOA

Beautiful beaches, food, and pleasant climate are what come to our mind when we think of Goa. Recently, I got a chance to visit this amazing tourist destination to attend a Tech Sprint hosted by Avni. This annual event brings together Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) from across the country to discuss their work and how the Avni platform is utilized to resolve some of the most pressing social and environmental issues.

What is Avni?

Avni is an open-source platform for doing field surveys and data collection. It also acts as a Case management system for non-profit organizations. It provides facilities to work with different sectors – like health, water, education, and sanitation & hygiene.

Avni – Bringing new technology to Non-profits

The three-day event included a wide range of activities, such as NGO tech talks, panel discussions, and knowledge-sharing sessions. The first day began with a unique introduction session where all the participants got to know one another, and share delicacies brought from their respective states. This was followed by an NGO talks session, during which NGOs shared their experiences and highlighted the impetus provided by Avni to their social development work.

It was encouraging to see organizations working across sectors like health, water, education and social welfare using avni very efficiently for the betterment of the society. We at Shelter Associates, utilize the Avni platform and GIS technology to collect, organize and publish slum data.
One of the main topics for discussion at this year’s event was the Roadmap and Feature of Avni. Deep dive sessions were conducted on the Avni- Glific integration and how organizations could retrieve data from Avni.

My takeaway from the sprint
After a day loaded with tech discussions, we decided to unwind by taking in Goa’s stunning sunset at the beach. Totally refreshed and recharged by Goa’s breathtaking natural beauty, we cherished every bit of the break.
This tech conference was a huge success, providing a platform for all the attendees to learn and share the latest developments in technology. It was inspiring to learn how Non-profits across our country are using new technology to solve our society’s pressing problems. Though the conference is just over, I am already looking forward to the next Avni sprint!
 
Kuldeep Lodha,
Software Developer,
Shelter Associates

Role of Community Volunteers in affecting social change

Shelter Associates (S.A) has been working intensively in different informal settlements for the last 3 decades to implement different projects related to sanitation, housing and Covid-relief for the urban poor of Maharashtra. We are a pioneer in using data and technology for the good of the slum communities and even after winning multiple awards for our methodology and innovation, we consider our true strength to be the people who create the last mile change – our community volunteers

A training session for community volunteers in progress

While working in the slum communities, we realized that if we want the urban poor to accept our interventions, we must educate, empower and make them our partners in this journey of social transformation. Thus we started identifying individuals who have the potential to make a difference in their society. Various Self Help Groups (SHG), Community Based Organizations (CBOs), Community leaders, youth organizations, and households within the slum settlements are contacted to find potential volunteers. 

Being from the communities, they have a sound understanding of the social and financial issues faced by the community people. Since these volunteers are familiar with the community, they connect and build a rapport very well with the community members easing the entire mobilization process. The community volunteers go through rigorous training which helps them understand the need of the undertaken project, its objectives and also how they can bring about on-ground transformation. 

A community volunteer educating an old women on importance of vaccination

They are then trained by SA experts in collecting data, reading maps, using survey tools, handling IEC material and conducting awareness activities. The whole slum is divided into pockets and each volunteer handles one pocket. They go door to door to conduct household level surveys. In the process, they also educate community members about the importance of sanitation, waste segregation and taking the Covid vaccine, etc. 

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Allocation of Volunteers to systematically mobilize communities for a wider impact

SA has been able to impact lakhs of urban poor individuals with the help of community volunteers. It is noteworthy that volunteers play a big role in SA’s core initiative the One Home One Toilet (OHOT) which has directly provided home toilets to 1.5 lakh individuals vastly improving their health, safety and wellbeing. In the recent Covid pandemic, our volunteers worked very hard to create awareness about Covid, the necessity of getting vaccinated and to dispel rumours surrounding vaccination in order to end vaccine hesitancy. This is how we were able to create awareness around the pandemic and facilitated vaccination for over 18,000 urban poor. 

A volunteer helps during raw material distribution for building home toilets

Community volunteers play the most crucial role in monitoring our projects on ground. This is the most important part since feedback on the progress of the project and the acceptance of the interventions by community people is the true measure of our success. It is the qualitative and quantitative assessment of our community volunteers which helps us fine tune and tweak our projects for the better. 

The most heart-warming part of our association with the community volunteers is watching their unique self-development journey. Many of our volunteers come from underprivileged background, without much education or job prospects they have struggled to make ends meet. When they join us as volunteers, they are thrilled to be a part of something bigger than themselves. With determination they learn to use survey tools and read maps. Slowly when they gain confidence, they are able to convince their fellow community members to adopt good practices and when they are able to bring transformation in their society is when their true potential is realized. 

“After learning to read spatial data from the Shelter Associates’ team, I was able to bring a significant change in the sanitation status of my community by convincing them to get a toilet built in their homes. People who called me ‘bhajiwali’ before now call me madam”.

Sujata, community volunteer from Pune

PERIOD POVERTY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION

Menstruation is an essential component of women’s reproductive cycle. However, in most parts of the world, it is still considered taboo and is rarely spoken about. Menstrual rituals and taboos have a severe impact on the lives of women and adolescent girls, reinforcing gender inequity and exclusion. Furthermore, studies have shown a strong link between poor menstrual hygiene and infections of the urinary or reproductive system, as well as other illnesses. Even well-educated women and girls have very less knowledge on menstruation than they must possess. It is true as people in their family never talked about PERIODS before. Girls start menstruating between the age group of 9-12 years and ignorance can lead to a different state of mind when approaching the first period. With stomach cramps and the fear of getting clothes stained, handling the menstruation cycle can be very challenging for every girl. In low-income areas, people start using rags while others have sanitary pads, menstrual cups, or tampons as an alternative. Each product has its benefits and drawbacks. Sanitary pads cause the most harm to nature as well as health. In a lifetime a woman uses around 11,000 menstrual pads which are either non-degradable or take a long time to degrade. The gel in the pads is harmful to individuals as it can clog the cervix from menstruating.

Menstrual hygiene workshops conducted for adolescent girls.

Women have their ways and preferences of handling the menstrual phase of their life. Personal preferences, resource availability, economic position, cultural customs and beliefs, education status, and knowledge about menstruation all have a role in how these techniques are implemented across the world. Menstruation hygiene practices are of great significance since they have a health impact; if ignored, they can lead to toxic shock syndrome, reproductive tract infections (RTI), and other vaginal diseases. In rural areas, women use clothes that create less pollution but are not always convenient. In some areas, women use sanitary pads but they dispose of them according to the availability of place, and their monthly habits. Sanitary pads from different brands cost a lot of money with a huge amount of waste generated; while on the other hand cotton cloth or rags are cost-effective with zero pollution. The best solution for zero waste during menstruation is to use good-quality reusable cloth pads or menstrual cups. These are safe for the body and the environment. The only prerequisite is to clean it properly and dry it before storing it until its next use.  Use of safe and hygienic-sanitary products is one thing, but most importantly one should not be afraid of sharing their menstrual issues at home or with friends or family. Knowledge about female anatomy and changes that occur during menstruation should be educated in early adolescence. Your daughter or sister might be uncomfortable talking with you about their period as you would be, but this is the time to break barriers and communicate to educate. Menstruation should not be considered taboo in our society as every family has a mother, sister, or wife who goes through periodic pain and needs emotional as well as physical relief during the four days of menstruation.

Menstrual hygiene workshops conducted with community people.

Training and workshops on menstruation and menstrual hygiene management should be organized to enhance the knowledge of menstrual hygiene. Primary and Secondary school teachers should be taught and instructed on how to teach kids about menstruation and maintaining cleanliness and hygiene during such times. Adolescent girls and women should be made aware of the latest menstrual products, different manufacturers, healthy practices, government policies, and so on through personal interactions as well as social and electronic media. Subsidies on menstrual products should be provided so that every woman can afford them. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) should step forward to teach rural residents about menstruation, menstrual hygiene, the necessity of home toilets, benefits of effective hand washing, knowledge about diseases of the reproductive tract caused by inadequate cleanliness, and so on. To avoid the problem of disposal, emphasis should be placed on the usage of reusable sanitary or cloth pads.

Shelter Associates is an NGO working for the welfare of the urban poor through its WASH interventions and has taken various measures to bring safe sanitation for the slum dwellers. A need to bring about transformation was urgently felt and we started conducting menstrual hygiene workshops for women living in informal settlements where we create awareness on the topic while advocating the use of cost-friendly and Eco-friendly products like cloth pads or menstrual cups. So far, we have conducted 100 such workshops in Navi Mumbai, and through discussions, sharing personal experiences, and demonstrations in a safe and friendly environment, we have helped more than 1300 women adopt the use of cloth pads or menstrual cups. Regular follow-up and guidance encourage them to spread the word within their communities. We plan to begin workshops in Pune, Thane, and Kolhapur soon.

Workshops conducted with school teachers regarding use of reusable menstrual pads.

Why celebrate Toilets?

Talking about toilets is really uncomfortable but we at Shelter Associates do just that – we not only talk about Toilets but also help underprivileged people build one. According to UN-Water, 15% of people in the world don’t have access to a toilet. Every day, over 700 children in India under five year old die from diarrhea linked to unsafe water, sanitation and poor hygiene. Toilet at home means menstruating girls, elderly and disabled people do not have to face the indignity of relieving outside. Have you ever imagined yourself living without a toilet? Life without a toilet at home is dirty, inconvenient, dangerous and undignified.

Clean and decorated toilet at Shramik Nagar, Pune.

Tackling the global sanitation crisis and achieving sustainable development goal #6, we need to provide water and sanitation for all by 2030. Despite the fact that sanitation is a recognized human right by the United Nations, there is an urgent need for a massive investment and innovation to quadruple progress all along the sanitation chain, from toilets to the transportation, collection, and treatment of human waste. The main theme of U.N-Water this year is valuing toilets. The main aim is to focus on the underfunded, poorly managed parts of the world, mostly with disastrous repercussions for health, economy, and the environment, particularly in the poorest and most vulnerable families. Shelter Associates started working on sanitation  in Maharashtra even before sanitation started drawing the attention of the Government of India. In 2013 Shelter Associates started the landmark project, “One Home One Toilet”, to deliver household toilets to the families at informal settlements on a cost-sharing basis.

Blessed to have a toilet at home.

According to the Government Of India, India is the largest open defecating nation in the world, where almost 15 percent of the total population have no access to sanitation which has a detrimental impact on the health, education, financial security, and safety of people living in informal communities. SA facilitates access to sanitation in informal settlements by: (1) setting up a very robust spatial data platform to pinpoint families who lack access to basic sanitation, (2) facilitating the construction of household toilets, (3) conducting various behavioral change activities to increase awareness within the community and (4) providing a forum for discussing sanitation issues.

On the occasion of World Toilet Day on 19th November 2021, Shelter Associates celebrated the milestone of completion of 24000+ individual toilets in various informal settlements of Pune, Thane, Kolhapur and Navi Mumbai along with the completion of the 100th individual toilet in Shramik Vasahat community in the Vishrantwadi ward of Pune. Present at the event were different dignitaries from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and local leaders from the area. 

Drawings made by children.

Often neglected are the ones who keep our community toilets safe and sanitized, such caretakers of community toilets from the 4 cities were felicitated as ‘Sanitation Warriors’ by the esteemed guests. Their efforts and years of hard work were appreciated by all. The day was marked with events to increase awareness of sanitation issues. Members from various informal settlements of Pune, Thane, Kolhapur and Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporations participated in the Toilet decoration competition, drawing competition, musical chairs, ‘Majhi galli, Swachh galli’ initiative and other events related to sanitation. 

Felicitation of “Sanitation Warriors”.

These joint efforts of community members, Government officials of the 4 Municipal Corporations, and Shelter Associates team were lauded by all guests as a model worth emulating for other communities. Sustained dedication and commitment by all stakeholders alone can help us achieve our Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of clean water and adequate sanitation for all by 2030. 

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF GIS DATA IN VACCINATION DRIVE

COVID19 is still stalking the world and the urban poor residing in informal settlements are struggling to get vaccinated. There are various misconceptions and myths regarding COVID19,and hence there is a pressing need for widespread awareness campaigns to dispel these fears. There is a paucity of information related to vaccination processes which has resulted in low vaccine coverage in slum communities. As a result, it is often assumed that residents in informal settlements are reluctant to receive vaccinations. More than 75% of individuals living in the slums of Pune, Kolhapur, Thane and Navi Mumbai who are above 18 years old are eager to get vaccinated, according to Shelter Associates’ household level survey results. However, vaccination coverage is low. The stumbling block is the online registration process and vaccine availability. In Maharashtra only 30% of the population is vaccinated for the first dose and only 1/3rd of them is vaccinated with the second dose. The lack of adherence to Covid Appropriate Behavior(CAB) guidelines, combined with a lower level of vaccination coverage, are key contributors to the rise of COVID-19 infection in the state. Our focus should be on an effective community-based behavioral change strategy that clears up any vaccination misunderstandings and facilitates online registrations along with community vaccination camps, as well as promoting CAB.

In house GIS Analyst working on informal settlement

Shelter Associates’ In-house GIS Data and field teams play a very important role in driving the vaccination process. The process followed by the team are as below:

  • The team of GIS Analysts map the selected slums of the 4 cities of Maharashtra with the help of a GIS based software. 
  • Plus Codes (Digital addresses codes) are generated for each house 
  • On-field community workers at Shelter Associates physically visit each and every slum house and collect raw data through household surveys covering the vaccination details and the families interested for vaccination
  • After this process, the data is integrated on a GIS platform and spatially queried. .

The spatial maps generated by the GIS team include details of the number of people who have completed their vaccinations and those who are left behind. Accordingly, detailed planning is done to drive the vaccination camp. Shelter Associates plan on how things can be taken forward to drive the vaccination process smoothly. To register the unregistered for the first dose of vaccine, volunteers residing in slum communities are trained so that none of them are missed out and all get vaccinated. 

Vaccination Tokens are been distributed

Once the slum pocket gets finalised, the community co-ordinators at Shelter Associates distribute tokens to the registered individuals. These tokens are then presented at the time of Vaccination Camps for a smooth implementation of the vaccination process. Upon further cross-verification, the pre-registered and spot registered individuals are inoculated by the health officers present during the camp.

Till September 2021, Shelter Associates helped more than 4431 people get vaccinated in Pune and Kolhapur through 16 and 9 vaccination camps respectively. Shelter Associates is making full efforts to raise awareness around the importance of vaccination  through a rigorous process of primary surveys and data collation, mobilizing the community people and setting up vaccination camps.

Spatial Map of Ganjimal Settlement (Kolhapur) post vaccination

This map is created through spatial data, post vaccination of Ganjimal Settlement of Kolhapur Municipal Corporation. Shelter Associates is rigorously  working on the other slums to cater the needy and help them get vaccinated through ground level survey and setting up vaccination camps.

TO BE VACCINATED OR NOT

COVID-19 VACCINATION DRIVE BY SHELTER ASSOCIATES

While the world is looking forward to the best possible remedy to COVID19 through vaccinations, the fact remains that this vaccine comes with its own set of myths and misinformation. Medical experts worldwide believe that vaccines are as important to your overall health as diet and exercise, but the question still prevails: Should you get yourself vaccinated with the newly developed COVID19 vaccine? 

Photograph of a resident from the informal settlement wearing a mask

Before we come to a conclusion, a small study is necessary to separate myths from facts.

Myth no.1: We get adversely affected by COVID19 if we get vaccinated. 

Learning from the experts, COVID-19 vaccines are developed using science that has been around for decades. The vaccine has gone through all the required stages of clinical trials followed by extensive testing and trails. The end result shows it as safe and efficient with minor side effects which validate the effectiveness of the vaccine. In short, the COVID19 vaccine creates antibodies and none of the vaccines contain live virus that causes COVID19.

Myth no. 2: The COVID-19 vaccine causes infertility in men and women.

There is no such evidence that proves this point. The vaccine does not interact with a woman’s reproductive organs nor with men’s sperm production or fertility. Pregnant women are at a greater risk if infected with COVID, which is why it is essential to get vaccinated to prevent any pregnancy related issues. 

Myth no. 3: I’ve already been diagnosed with COVID-19, so I don’t need to get vaccinated.

Once a person recovers from COVID19, the body generates natural immunity and antibodies but that does not last for long. The person may get re-infected after a few months. That is the reason medical experts suggest COVID vaccine after 3 months of recovery. Studies have proved that vaccination provides a strong boost in protecting  people who have recovered from COVID-19.

Myth no. 4: Once I receive the COVID-19 vaccine, I no longer need to wear a mask.

While we understand the importance of getting vaccinated, it is equally true that no vaccine is 100% effective. Getting vaccinated does not mean we can go back to how life was earlier and move freely without masks. A vaccinated person might still be a carrier of the virus, even if they don’t feel sick. Thus, as per Government protocol, physical distancing, face masks and  handwashing is essential even after a person is vaccinated with both the doses of COVID19 Vaccine. 

While there are a lot of speculations and theories regarding the deadly COVID-19 virus, there is an imminent  danger that if you test positive, your entire family and those in contact with you are at high risk. The COVID-19 vaccine does not guarantee 100% protection from COVID-19 but it definitely helps in keeping oneself from getting seriously ill after testing positive. While the above explanations clear out most of the prevailing myths and strongly recommend vaccinations, individuals residing in the informal settlements may think differently. They live in dense settlements and are more vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus than the general public, but aren’t still fully convinced about the benefits of vaccination.

Shelter Associates, an NGO working for the betterment of the urban poor in Maharashtra through sanitation and housing for the last 28 years, has done extensive research on understanding communities and their preferences with respect to the prevailing COVID-19 scenario. Data collated from every house reveals that communities are apprehensive about getting vaccinated since there are several rumors  and misinformation doing the rounds about the vaccine. 

Community Workers collecting data and mobilizing communities on COVID-19 Vaccination

Recognizing the need to educate communities and bust the vaccination myths, Shelter Associates has been conducting COVID-19 vaccination drives in the informal settlements in the cities of Pune, Kolhapur, Navi Mumbai and Thane to support the City Municipal Corporations and partner organisations. The broad objectives of the campaign are:

  • To mobilize communities to follow COVID Appropriate Behaviour and spread awareness through formal and informal activities as part of risk communication and community engagement strategy. 
  • To reduce vaccine hesitancy and increase vaccine willingness and registration in the informal settlements
  • To distribute WASH supplies such as masks, sanitizers, wash basins at Community toilets, etc. which would ultimately contribute towards Infection prevention and control. 
  • Capacity building of community workers, self-help groups, community health workers, etc. who are equal contributors to the vaccination drive.  
  • To monitor and evaluate a system of evidence-based planning based on assessments for Covid response and preparedness.
COVID-19 Vaccination Camps being organised in the informal Settlements
Health Officers vaccinating the residents of informal settlements

The expertise and experience of Shelter Associates in bringing about a behavioural change among communities will go a long way in busting the myths and spreading positive information. Such vaccination drives are vital in  ensuring that maximum people residing in informal settlements get vaccinated and lead a healthy and virus-free life. 

Reference: Shelter Associates, https://www.cdc.gov/

SUSTAINABLE SANITATION FOR THE FUTURE: Allocation of CTB Seats

Over the years, the slum population in India has soared along with its growing urban population. Regarded as an area unsuitable for human habitation with deplorable sanitation conditions, slums in India often fight over concerns of good health and hygiene.

Traditionally, slum dwellers had to depend on Community sanitation as home toilets were not even considered as a possibility by the urban local bodies. As per the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), it is estimated that families residing in slum settlements are most likely to use community sanitation facilities as a solution to open defecation due to space and financial constraints in constructing a home toilet. However, for the first time with the launch of SBM, there was immense thrust given to providing household toilets in slums wherever possible.

Shelter Associates, an NGO working in seven cities of Maharashtra, have been focusing on improving the sanitation situation in the informal settlements through facilitation of household toilets. With SA’s focused efforts on the facilitation of home toilets, many slums have become ODF and ODF+ in these cities. However, there is always a small percentage of families who can get left out due to various constraints and continue to be dependent on Community toilets.

Beneficiary of an individual household toilet facilitated by Shelter Associates

Hence the moot question is how to create sustainable sanitation practices in the use of community toilets? This is especially important in the context of COVID19 with its concerns of community hygiene.

In settlements where SA has facilitated OHOT, the direct impact was the reduction of pressure on community toilets as more and more families opted for a home toilet. In some slums the Community toilet seat to family ratio is reduced between 1:2 to 1:4. Shelter Associates have therefore strategized on distributing the CTB toilet seats to individual families who do not own a home toilet. Every toilet seat within the CTB will be allocated to two or three resident families who would be responsible for its upkeep.

This will provide multiple benefits to the families; Firstly, it would eliminate waiting time. Secondly, since the seats would be used only by 2-3 families who would also undertake the cleanliness and upkeep of the toilets and keep it locked when not in use, they are likely to be well maintained. This will ease the maintenance burden on the ULB’s. This is a very well strategized solution that has been initiated in the city of Kolhapur, Maharashtra. Shelter Associates has collaborated with HT Parekh Foundation and Kolhapur Municipal Corporation for the Urban WASH project in 8 slum settlements of Kolhapur. These settlements house over 1200 families, out of which over 680 families use 19 Community Toilets. Shelter Associates have therefore initiated facilitation of household toilets wherever possible followed by advocacy with the ULB to repair/refurbish toilet seats where necessary, installation of hand wash stations and the CTB Seat Distribution in all these project slums as part of providing holistic sanitation solutions in the slums.

Analysing the CTB situation along with KMC Deputy Commissioner and other officials
Visiting families who are unable to opt for a home toilet due to space constraint

In one of the project slum settlements of Phulewadi in Kolhapur where the model is adopted, there are a total of 4 Community Toilet Blocks. After SA’s intervention in the slum through the household toilet facilitation, only 31 families comprising 132 individuals now use the CTB. With the reduced CTB seat to person ratio, it was decided to distribute the seats among families who were still dependent on the CTB. The Male and Female CTB toilet seats have been  distributed to families of that settlement after a series of consultation with the community.  Through this initiative, only the allocated families can use the toilet seat as they will be provided locks and keys for the same. They have also undertaken the responsibility of maintenance and upkeep of their allocated toilet.

Public event with the KMC officials and Phulewadi residents to announce the allocation of CTB seats
Map of Phulewadi (Kolhapur) showing gender-wise distribution of CTB seats to families

This model illustrates a win-win situation for all the stakeholders since it allows equal distribution of sanitation facilities to the communities while also lowering the maintenance burden on the Government bodies. This model has the potential to be scaled across 24 informal settlements of Kolhapur where the toilet seat to family ratio has reduced drastically. Scaling the project further, wherever possible, individual household toilets can be facilitated to create additional scope for allocating CTB seats to households who are unable to get a home toilet constructed.

This is a step in the direction of safe community sanitation. In this model there is a move to shift responsibility of maintenance from the ULB to the community by converting the status of the CTB from public to semi private toilets.