BAJURA, APRIL 13

Sushmita Saud, a grade 11 student at Debaldanda Secondary School, attends school regularly, even during mensuration. Saud, who began menstruating when she was in seventh grade, used to miss 4-5 days of school during her periods for several years.

Due to the lack of girl-friendly toilets, sanitary pad management, and drinking water in the school, she used to stay at home for a few days every month.

Sushmita claims that since the repair and construction of the new toilet, she has not missed a day of school over the last year.

There were no women-friendly toilets at the school, and the toilets were not properly maintained. However, she does not have to miss her lessons anymore now that the school has made all of the necessary arrangements, Sushmita added.

Gaura Saud, who is in the same grade as Sushmita, has recently begun to attend school on a regular basis.

According to Gaura, 'In the past, there were no pads available, and all pupils used the same toilet.'

Girl students who used to miss a few classes per month have started to attend to school regularly after the school started managing female-friendly restrooms, pads, and drinking water, according to Principal Bishnu Prasad Ojha.

There are 485 female students in the school up to class 12.

The Health Rights Improvement Project-HRIP constructed the new toilet in the school in coordination with the government, the Korean International Cooperation Agency-KOICA, and Good Neighbors International.

With the construction of the toilet, the project is also working to promote the hygiene, education, and capacity building of the teachers, claimed Debendra Shah, coordinator of the project.

According to Shah, 6542 female pupils have benefited from the construction of bathrooms. On a local level, PeaceWin and KIRDARC are working together on the project.

The lack of a women-friendly toilets and pad management creates an inconvenience for girl students, which will be alleviated after such facility is built, according to project advisor Jeong Hwa Lee.

The project has been providing training on health, sanitation, and capacity building in 40 schools and 16 health centres in Badimalika, Tiveni, Budhiganga municipalities, and Khaptad Chededaha and Gaumul rural municipalities of Bajura district, informed Jeong Hwa Lee.

There are 186 basic schools, 65 secondary schools, and three campuses in Bajura.

In the district, women are still kept away from home in separate sheds during menstruation. It has been shown that during menstruation, girls miss up to three days of school.

Despite the fact that the government has included free sanitary pads in the policy, civic leader Pradip Raj Jaisi claims that it has not been executed owing to poor management.

Translated by Sandeep Sen