Nandita Suraksha is a platform that works to ensure menstrual hygiene products for marginalized women and adolescents in Bangladesh. This Faridpur-based voluntary organization has been working since 2019, and has been successful in sensitizing around 3000 men and women through their activities in the last two years.
The platform has been providing necessary medical and protective materials, including raising awareness about menstrual health among the poor marginalized people of Bede Palli (areas where snake charmers live), sweepers/cleaners’ colonies, slums and char areas.
Tahiyatul Jannat Remi, the founder of the organization, launched this initiative with a sum of only Tk185. Gradually, her friends volunteered to help, and then their friends also joined. Moreover, once they work in an area to generate awareness, they also engage volunteers from among their beneficiaries. Till date, they have had 101 volunteers who have provided sanitary pads to 2,500 women and adolescents. They will provide sanitary pads to 300 schoolgirls this year, an initiative which is already underway.
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They fund most of the activities themselves, and occasionally get support from local and national NGOs. Some NGOs which have supported them in this endeavor are BLAST, Empower Me and Amal Foundation. The organization has also received support from the office of the divisional commissioner of Dhaka.
Tahiyatul Jannat Remi, founder of Nandita Suraksha, speaks during a meeting on menstrual hygiene and sexual assault prevention at Adarsha Girls' High School in Faridpur in 2019 Courtesy
Remi said: “Our goal is to build a menstruation-friendly society. There are many women in our country who cannot afford to buy sanitary napkins at such high prices. I urge the government to reduce the prices of these sanitary products and ensure that poor people are able to get these for free through community clinics.”
It may be noted that every May 28, nonprofits, government agencies, the private sector, the media and individuals come together to celebrate Menstrual Hygiene Day and advocate for the importance of good menstrual hygiene management.
‘Suraksha Bank’ for school girls
They are working in nine upazilas of Faridpur in order to ensure protection of women and girls’ sexual and reproductive health. They have set up a “Suraksha Bank” for schoolgirls in different schools of Faridpur, which is a box where they provide sanitary napkins and essential hygiene products such as soaps, undergarments, etc. In case of any urgent needs, the schoolgirls can avail of these items at the school premises itself.
In addition, monthly safety seminars are being conducted for 60 primary and high schools. Through this, menstruating girls also can be made aware of menstrual health issues in advance.
Although various well-known and expensive schools in the capital have now introduced many topics to generate awareness on menstrual hygiene, prevention of sexual violence against girls, these topics remain largely absent in most educational institutions in different parts of the country.
“The situation is the same in my area, Faridpur,” Remi lamented.
Tahiyatul Jannat Remi, founder of Nandita Suraksha, alongside Faridpur Government Girls High School officials and students, pose for a photo after the inauguration of Suraksha Bank in 2020 Courtesy
Tanjila Akhter Tonni, 15, a resident of Beel Mahmudpur village and a ninth grader who is one of the beneficiaries of the initiative, said: “Nandita Suraksha has helped me a lot in terms of understanding how to ensure hygiene during menstruation. Their seminars have been very helpful. Previously, I had to miss school for several days every month during my menstruation, but now that I have learnt how to manage my menstrual health, I no longer have to miss school.”
Tonni is now a volunteer for Nandita Suraksha herself.
How do marginalized women tend to their menstrual needs?
“I went to work and found that women and children, starting from those of Bede Palli to those Char areas, are managing their menstrual cycles and health in a very unhealthy way. They are even suffering from various complex diseases due to this, but are not taking treatment. The main reason behind this is that prejudice, taboo and stigma are associated with talking about menstruation. Moreover, the financial crisis among these marginalized people makes it more difficult for them to access safe sanitary options,” Remi said.
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Nandita Suraksha has made a strong impact through its work to remove the stigma associated with menstrual health.
“We also provide them with reusable pads, which they can use for a long time, free of charge.”
Once a victim, now a changemaker
Remi's life was a little different from others since childhood. Because of a skin disease which left her skin unnaturally white, she herself was always a victim of discrimination and abuse by many. She would not leave the house as she just wanted to hide away from all the taunts and insults thrown at her.
Her classmates never wanted to take pictures with her, some even screamed, “Ghost”, when they saw her. The injustices she herself had suffered as a child further strengthened her resolve to bring about social change. She formed this organization determined to fight social prejudices and help other women who are also deprived in many ways.
Nandita Suraksha volunteers distribute sanitary napkins to flood-affected women in Faridpur's Charbhadrasan upazila in 2020 Courtesy
“Although menstrual protection is a part of women's social security, very few organizations deal with this issue. Moreover, I've seen how many people are neglected and ridiculed in this regard,” she added.
The organisation conducted a survey in its working area in 2020, and found that a staggering 80 out of 100 women suffered from various physical problems during menstruation. Volunteers of the organisation are providing medical services to those women and adolescents, for example, they arrange for these women to be treated by physicians free of charge.
Women living in the char areas and rural Bede women use jute bags during menstruation, which they change after 8-10 hours. This is why these women develop painful fungal infections, Remi added.
Social taboo and superstitions
In some areas, adolescents are not even allowed to have fish, meat, milk, eggs, etc., during their menstrual cycle. Many are not allowed to go to school. To break this kind of taboo, the organization’s volunteers took sanitary pads to them to talk about menstrual health and safety.
In addition the organization’s volunteers conduct seminars in schools and slums to raise awareness on preventing sexual harassment, help them distinguish between good and bad touch, prevent violence against women and children and child marriage, and understand the effects of physical abuse.
The organization is also training women in self-defense.
To celebrate menstruation hygiene month, Nandita Suraksha organized an online platform based discussion, where women can share problems which they cannot share with anyone.
“Most importantly, we always stay in touch with the women and adolescents that we have supported, so that they can come to us in case of any need,” said Remi.
