Women’s in the many parts of the country had to follow some inhuman practices one such practice was done in Gadchiroli district as the girls, women were send to Kurma Ghar or what is called as a ‘Period Hut’ during their menstrual period. To break this practice the Gadhchiroli district administration has started an initiative to eradicate the inhuman and cruel practice of sending girls and women to these hut.
The initiative launched in 2018 aims to change the mindset of people to help the girls and women of Gond and Madia tribes who during menstruation faced several problems due to the cultural, religious and social taboos.
The administration has not brought up Mahila Visava Kendras or Women’s Rest Centres in place of Kurma Ghars.
These are safe and secure spaces having all the basic amenities like toilets, bathrooms, handwashing facilities with soap and running water as well as cooking amenities.
The women and girls during their stay occupy themselves in self-help group activities. The place is also equipped with a library, sewing machine, kitchen garden etc.
So far 23 such centres have been constructed and the District Administration is planning to build more than 400 such centres.
Apart from sanitation the initiative also aims at menstrual hygiene management (MHM) and the need for construction of toilets in households and schools for safe menstrual hygiene practices.
It also aims at skill development and setting up of sanitary napkin dispensers and incinerators in schools and public toilets.
