Menstruation is a natural phenomenon that almost every woman in the world goes through. Women bleed, period. Nevertheless, in developing countries such as India, almost 82% of women do not have access to sanitary pads or tampons. Admittedly, this is an alarmingly high number! In a stride to combat global period poverty, the Scottish parliament passed a revolutionary bill last week.
Scotland is the first nation to make menstrual sanitary products freely available for all women.
The legislation makes tampons and sanitary pads available at public places such as community centres, youth clubs and pharmacies. Hence, the bill will cost the government around £24.1 million (roughly, 221 crore rupees). The Period Products (Free Provision) Scotland Bill passed through the first stage with 112 votes in favour, no oppositions, and one abstention.
Furthermore, according to Bustle, the bill proposer, Monica Lennon mentioned that making it law would be a “milestone moment for normalising menstruation in Scotland”. MP, Alison Johnstone said, “Why is it in 2020 that toilet paper is seen as a necessity but period products aren’t?”
Free Access In Schools, Colleges and Universities
Moreover, in 2018, the Scottish government announced that all students across the country would have easy and free access to sanitary napkins and tampons. This cost the government an amount of £5.2 million.
So, let’s all appreciate this bold and much-needed move by the Scottish government. Let’s hope this will make other countries follow suit.
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