‘Mumbai is no place for women on their period’

A recent study by Mahina a period products brand has revealed a disturbing reality mdash four out of five women feel anxious about finding clean public restrooms during their periods While menstruation is a natural biological process the lack of hygienic infrastructure in cities like Mumbai turns it into a daily struggle for millions of women The issue goes beyond physical discomfort mdash it affects mental wellbeing and limits professional opportunities especially in onfield jobsWorking womenrsquos ordealFor many women menstruation brings its own set of challenges mdash cramps fatigue hormonal shifts But on top of that is the constant worry about access to clean private spaces for hygiene managementAn unhygienic public toilet at Yari Road in Andheri West offers no relief to women looking for clean safe sanitation PicKirti Surve PradeldquoCleanliness is always a concern and I avoid any facility that looks neglected or poorly maintained I rarely use public toilets mdash theyrsquore either closed or filthy If Irsquom between meetings or delayed I step into a mall hotel or restaurant instead But thatrsquos not always possible Sometimes I avoid drinking water entirely if I know Irsquoll be out for long hours Itrsquos not healthy but it feels safer especially during periodsrdquo said Smruti Bhalerao a PR professionalldquoThe mere presence of a toilet is not enough mdash it must be wellmaintained and visibly clean This is not just about convenience itrsquos about health dignity and the freedom to move through the city without having to make such basic compromisesrdquo she addedMakeshift public toilets in Borivli West lack hygiene and regular maintenance making them unusable for menstruating womenSome women choose to simply stay home during their periods ldquoI make sure Irsquom either at home or in the office where I know I have access to a clean washroom The lack of public toilets affects women not just during their periods but in general Irsquove seen women forced to urinate under flyovers with relatives trying to shield them or hiding behind sarees Itrsquos a sorry state for what is supposed to be one of Asiarsquos richest municipalitiesrdquo said Olive Drsquosilva a private firm employeeldquoHygiene becomes critical during periods and searching for a clean toilet is often embarrassing and exhausting I believe this is one reason why many capable women avoid jobs in fields like sales logistics or transportrdquo she addedLack of clean facilities also makes it harder to use modern menstrual products like cups and disposal pads ldquoPublic washrooms usually stink and are extremely dirty I wait till I reach the office because using them increases the risk of UTIs I carry hand sanitiser and intimate wipes but itrsquos not enough Menstrual cups are the most convenient for me but without clean water and surroundings I canrsquot use them Sometimes therersquos not even a dustbin to dispose of used padsrdquo said Aditi Kajrolkar another working professionalPublic toilet at Dadar station is unusable due to a broken flush tankGiven that many commuters in Mumbai spend at least two hours daily travelling to and from work women in field jobs are the most affected ldquoIrsquom a real estate agent already working in a maledominated industry On top of that not having clean toilets adds to the stress My family has often suggested switching to a desk job just for better hygiene accessrdquo said Neha Jindal a real estate agent ldquoBut should a lack of clean toilets be a reason to give up your dreams mdash especially in Mumbai the socalled lsquomaximum cityrsquordquoImpact on healthThe consequences arenrsquot just inconvenient mdash theyrsquore dangerous ldquoUTIs are the most common issues among female patients But we also see reproductive tract infections skin rashes and fungal infections caused by unclean toilets Every month I treat 30ndash35 such casesrdquo said Dr Vandana Ghadge a gynaecologistldquoWhen women avoid drinking water or hold their urine for long hours it leads to kidney stones bladder issues and dehydrationrdquo This in turn affects mental health ldquoAbout 50 per cent of women report mental stress from delayed urination Combine that with the cultural shame around menstruation mdash even in a metro like Mumbai mdash and it creates longterm damage to womenrsquos confidence and selfesteemrdquo said Dr Rashmi JoshiShetty a consultant psychiatristldquoIrsquove had patients who are still asked to sleep on the floor or avoid touching anything at home during periods Add to that the lack of safe clean public toilets and itrsquos no surprise that women start withdrawing from work or social spacesrdquoWhat can be doneThe solution experts say is clear build and maintain toilets ldquoToilets are built but theyrsquore not maintained If authorities lack the manpower they should hand them over to NGOs or citizen groupsrdquo said a volunteer from an NGO working on womenrsquos rights ldquoThese groups can charge a small transparent fee based on usage to pay for cleaners Clean toilets are a fundamental right The government must at least provide water electricity and proper dustbins free of costrdquo