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NIINE MENSTRUAL AWARENESS COCLAVE | Panel Discussion | Meenakshi Lekhi | Shabana Azmi, Akshay kumar

566 views · Published 30 May 2018 · 10:47 · Indexed 8 November 2026

Channel: TEN NEWS NATIONAL · 2018 · News & Politics

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*With SHOCKING revelations of only 18% women using sanitary pads in India, this is what Akshay Kumar and Shabana Azmi said about India's stand on Periods*




New Delhi: Bollywood Superstar Akshay Kumar participated in a Menstrual Awareness Conclave on Monday, to mark Menstrual Hygiene Day where  he said that the society can only implement change if there are informed discussions.


He also urged people to make sure that all women have the right to manage their periods safely and with dignity.


The Niine Movement, an ambitious five-year plan aimed at raising awareness on the importance of menstrual hygiene and tackling the taboos associated with menstruation was officially launched at the inaugural Menstrual Awareness Conclave in Delhi, India to mark International Menstrual Hygiene Day on 28th May 2018. 



Despite menstruation being an experience lived by as many as 355 million girls and women in India, approximately only 18% of them currently use sanitary napkins with approximately 82%  of women often reverting to unhygienic and unsafe alternatives such as old cloths, rags, hay and even ash.  As a result of the unwillingness to discuss menstruation, there is a subsequent culture of silence and shame which has left women and girls with no choice but to partake in unsafe menstrual practices, frequently resulting in urinary and reproductive tract infections, stress, and anxiety. 


The Menstrual Awareness Conclave was graced by film personalities, academicians, policymakers, government officials, activists, medical experts, business stalwarts, NGOs, and thought-leaders, to discuss the impact that stigma and taboos have had on menstruation, which have held girls and women back for centuries from achieving their potential and living a life of respect and dignity. 


 

 Bollywood superstar, Akshay Kumar, who’s most recent award-winning film Pad Man, tackled the issue of menstrual taboo was also there to contribute his insight to discussions. He recently began his support of the Niine Movement with the launch of the nationwide campaign #18to82 to bridge the gap between the minority that are able to adopt hygienic practices and the large majority who are not able to make an informed choice in these matters.


 Speaking about his support of the Menstrual Awareness Conclave, Akshay Kumar said: “The Niine Menstrual Awareness Conclave is a crucial assembly of minds, influencers and menstrual awareness champions - convening under one roof with the common goal of tackling the urgent issues, taboos and stigmas associated with menstrual health and hygiene. We, as a collective society, can only implement change once we initiate discussion, and the conclave on International Menstrual Hygiene Day is a fitting platform for us to truly empower a nation of women. Together we can ensure that every woman and girl has the right to manage her period safely and with dignity.”



 The Menstrual Awareness Conclave also featured two high-level panels engaging prominent and expert panellists. The first panel was Chaired and Moderated by Poonam Muttreja, the Executive Director of the Population Foundation of India (PFI), 


 Some of the panelists included film actor and women’s rights activist Shabana Azmi, Avinash Kumar, Director Programme and Policy, WaterAid India. 



Speaking at Panel Discussion, Shabana Azmi Said, "In villages women use cloth not sanitary napkins. They will reuse this cloth by washing again and again  but they will not dry in sunlight due to shame. I'm really glad we are talking about this issue openly. This is a proud moment for all of us".

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