29 May Swamiji’s Missions distribute free sanitary pads
Seva Day is a special annual charity project which is performed on the 14th day of May in observance of the birthday of Her Holiness Sri Jayanthi Kumaraswami. Seva literally means service and it implies the service to others, selflessly. Sri Jayanthi Kumaraswami teaches, if you want to experience the true grace of God, then one must be ready to remove the pains and sorrows of those in need. These words of wisdom were the foundation blocks of the incorporation of the Jai Sathya Mission of T&T in the year 2014.
This year, the Mission will highlight challenges and the stigma attached to menstrual hygiene by embarking on a project to distribute free packs of sanitary napkins to poor households across the Trinidad and Tobago, as well as India. In addition, our volunteers will educate people about personal hygiene during the distribution phase. Though many may not see menstrual hygiene as a serious issue in Trinidad, there are reports of girls who stay home from school due to lack of sanitary products at the time of their period. This leads to fungal and bacterial infections in the urinary track. More so, with a stigma attached to menstruation, many women still face an emotional and social burden in some religious circles. Unfortunately, these problems still exist in Trinidad and the wider Caribbean, hence the efforts by many other social groups in recent years to highlight the truths surrounding period poverty and discrimination. Sri Jayanthi Kumaraswami reiterates that blood which emerges from a period is simply a discharge of blood, mucus and tissue.
“Only a woman can carry the fetus in the womb which is a divine process. The woman holds the universe in her womb. As such, when a woman is on her menstrual cycle, she should not be discriminated against or scorned. In ancient days a woman was not allowed to sit during religious rituals when she was on her period. However, this was due to the lack of sanitary products. Also, because she will not be able to concentrate on the ritual because of body aches caused by heat in the body. These actions were not forms of discrimination but somehow have been misinterpreted in this modern age where sanitary products, education and comfort can be provided,” says Sri Jayanthi Kumaraswami.
As such, Swamiji wishes educate people and provide free sanitary products in the Caribbean and India. Sri Jayanthi Kumaraswami commended Prime Minister the Hon. Narendra Modi last year on his policy to provide sanitary pads in India at the cost of Rs. 1. However, Swamiji believes that much more can be done to reach rural villages and urban slums where the stigma attached to menstruation still causes embarrassment and hesitancy in women to go collect the products available to them.
With Menstrual Hygiene Day being observed on May 28th, both Missions in T&T and India commenced the distribution of sanitary products on Friday 14th May, 2021. The project promotes good menstrual hygiene management. The Jai Sathya Mission of Trinidad and Tobago is pleased to announce that free sanitary napkins are available hereafter at the Mission’s Clothing Bank in Chaguanas, Trinidad.