By Soumyashree Mohanty
Imagine getting your first period and being told to sit outside the exam hall to write your paper. Shocking, right? But this actually happened. A young Dalit girl from a private school in Tamil Nadu was forced to sit outside the exam hall during her exam because she got her period.
Even though the Government of India approved the “Menstrual Hygiene Policy for School-Going Girls” in 2024, such incidents still happen. The headmistress of the school has been suspended. But the question is: Why did this happen in the first place?
It’s deeply upsetting that a woman teacher, someone who is responsible for shaping young minds, acted in such an insensitive way. If teachers are not aware of something as basic as menstruation, how can we expect the next generation to grow up with the right knowledge and values?
In a video shared on social media, the girl’s mother can be heard shouting, “If someone gets their period, does that mean they cannot sit inside the classroom and write their exams? Should they sit on the road and write?”
According to the news published by The Indian Express, the girl’s mother had informed the school about her daughter’s first period and asked for a separate arrangement. But the school didn’t try to understand why she was making this request. Maybe she wanted her daughter to feel safe and comfortable. It’s also possible that, like in many rural and traditional families, periods are still treated as taboo because of cultural or religious beliefs.
This was a moment for the school to step up and educate the family and students. Schools should help break myths and bring awareness — not promote discrimination. But sadly, the school did the opposite.
According to reports, when the mother questioned the teachers about the discrimination, they said, “That’s what happens here. If you want, enrol her in another school.” This is irrational and should not be accepted at any cost.
And this isn’t the only case.
On January 25, 2025, India Today reported a similar story. A Class 11 girl in Uttar Pradesh was asked to leave the classroom for an hour during an exam because she asked for a sanitary pad. Her father later filed a complaint.
These stories show that many in our society still lack basic awareness about menstruation. We say education brings change, but what kind of change are we talking about if our teachers themselves are not sensitized?
That’s why awareness needs to go beyond just students. Teachers, school staff, and the wider community also need to be educated. It’s not enough to only talk to girls and boys about menstruation — the adults around them must also be involved.
Training for Teachers and School Management Committee:
Centre for Youth Development and Activities (CYDA), a youth-led non-profit organization, is working to change this situation by helping normalize menstruation and promote acceptance across India. Through two programs — Talking to Adolescents about Reproductive Health and Gender (TARANG) and Stepping Stones — CYDA spreads awareness about menstruation, gender, reproductive health, and HIV/AIDS in schools and communities. Trained facilitators conduct sessions with teachers and School Management Committee (SMC) members on Menstrual Health Management (MHM). These sessions not only create awareness but also focus on practical ways to manage menstruation safely and with dignity. In addition to these trainings, awareness campaigns are regularly organized in communities to educate people about menstruation and its proper management.
It has also set up Dignity Rooms in schools with support from its CSR partners. These are safe spaces where adolescent girls can go during their periods. The rooms are equipped with essential items like sanitary pads, a cot, hot water bags, and educational materials. The goal is not just to provide comfort but also to create a space where girls can talk openly about menstruation and share their thoughts and experiences.
These initiatives help break the silence and stigma around periods and encourage everyone to see menstruation as something normal — because it is. (The author is Research Associate at CYDA)
