Col Anuj Bindra
In an era when India is touching new heights in technology, governance, and social development, it is disheartening that something as natural and universal as menstruation continues to remain a taboo subject, particularly in our Jammu region, where, despite numerous government initiatives, awareness drives, and schemes for menstrual hygiene, the impact on the ground remains disappointingly limited. We have policies, we have programmes, we have pad distribution systems, we have SHGs trained to produce low-cost pads, and yet the one thing that truly matters is the open conversation that remains mostly missing.
In our homes, schools, marketplaces and community spaces, the word “period” is still spoken in hushed tones, wrapped in shame, fear, or sheer discomfort. Girls hide sanitary pads inside newspapers; boys grow up without any understanding; mothers hesitate to explain biological facts; workplaces maintain silence; and society at large still treats menstruation as something impure or inconvenient. The truth is, our Silence has become the biggest barrier standing between women and their dignity. Even with Mission Shakti, school health initiatives, pad vending machines in institutions, awareness calendars, and health workers trained to spread information, progress has not kept pace with expectations because infrastructure alone cannot erase stigma. Until mindsets change, resources remain underutilised and taboos remain untouched.
The ground reality is totally different, in many parts of Jammu, the girls still lack access to affordable sanitary pads; school washrooms are either unclean or non-functional; safe disposal systems are scarce; myths continue to restrict basic activities; and periods are treated as something to hide rather than understand. Many adolescent girls skip classes during their periods simply because their school lacks a usable toilet or because they fear mockery. Many women in rural belts still rely on cloth or unhygienic alternatives. Boys are excluded from the conversation altogether, enabling teasing, ignorance, and stigma. We are losing not just a health battle but a psychological one.
Menstrual health is not merely a biological matter but linked to girls’ education, self-confidence, mental well-being, workforce participation, gender equality and community development. When girls drop out of school due to inadequate menstrual facilities, the entire region loses human potential. When women hesitate to voice discomfort or ask for support, families suffer silently. When men do not understand what their daughters, colleagues or partners go through, empathy is replaced by confusion. A society cannot call itself progressive if it cannot talk about menstruation openly.
I believe deeply that real change does not come from policies alone; it comes from people who choose courage over comfort. It comes from conversations that challenge outdated beliefs. And it comes from communities that decide that dignity is non-negotiable. As someone who has built my life around resilience, purpose, and inspiring others to break through limitations, I feel compelled to raise my voice here. If not now, then when? The need of the hour is a cultural shift,the one that normalises talking about periods, involves men and boys in awareness, ensures schools have functional washrooms, supports SHGs in manufacturing affordable pads, installs vending machines and incinerators in educational institutions and workplaces, trains frontline workers to speak confidently, and encourages media platforms, FM channels and social media to continuously amplify this conversation. Menstrual health cannot be an annual event; it must become a monthly, weekly, everyday dialogue.
Jammu has no shortage of capable administrators, dedicated teachers or motivated community groups. The missing link is consistent, stigma-free, unapologetic communication. For true progress, schools must make menstrual hygiene education part of everyday life. Workplaces must include menstrual wellness in employee health policies. Families must replace silence with understanding. Fathers must support their daughters; sons must learn without hesitation; husbands must empathise; educators must guide without embarrassment. Real progress is when a girl feels confident attending school on all days of the month without fear or shame.In my personal capacity, I am committed to contribute to this cause. I want boys and young men to be part of this journey so that future generations grow up without shame or hesitation. This is not charity. This is responsibility. This is a commitment to dignity, equality and humanity.
I am often asked why this issue matters so much to me. My answer is simple: because empowerment is incomplete if half the population is still made to feel ashamed of their natural biology. Because no girl should miss school, skip sports, hide in her home or suffer in silence due to a lack of awareness or facilities. Because no mother should struggle to answer basic questions out of discomfort. Because stigma survives only when good people stay silent and staying silent has never been my style. My journey has always been about breaking barriers, challenging norms, and helping people rise above circumstances. This is one more challenge we must face together. Menstrual health is not a women’s issue; it is a societal issue. And society includes every single one of us.
If we desire that our Jammu region must truly progress, then we must collectively decide that the time for whispered conversations is over. Let us create homes where daughters can speak freely, schools where girls feel safe and supported, workplaces where women are understood, and communities where dignity overrides discomfort. Let us remember that a progressive region is not defined by infrastructure alone but by awareness, empathy and the courage to speak openly. The future belongs to societies that refuse to let silence win. It belongs to communities that prioritise dignity. It belongs to people who choose to rise. Let us break the stigma, challenge the taboo, and build a Jammu where menstrual health is understood, respected and supported. Let us choose awareness over ignorance, dignity over discomfort, and progress over hesitation. The time to act is now. The responsibility is ours. And the impact will be limitless.
About the Author – Col Anuj Bindra is a war wounded soldier who exemplifies resilience, leadership and purpose. Beyond the uniform, he is a powerful voice of motivation. Through his digital platform www.anujbindra.com, he shares deep personal stories of resilience, comeback and leadership. It’s a space “where purpose meets perseverance”; and one get inspired to break barriers and become unstoppable in his life.
