Student Denied Sanitary Pad During Exam in Uttar Pradesh

A probe was ordered when a class 11 student in Uttar Pradesh was forced to stand outside the classroom to get a sanitary pad during the exam.

In his complaint, the girl's father said that his daughter had gone to the school to appear for a test where she realized that her periods had started. The girl's father stated that after she asked the principal for a sanitary pad, the child was allegedly asked to leave the classroom and ordered to stay outside for almost an hour.  

The incident happened on Saturday when the student who had begun her monthly cycle went to the principal for support. They said that rather than obtaining help, she was mistreated and overlooked. 

The girl's father filed a complaint, stating that his daughter noticed her period had begun while she was in school for an examination.  

The complainant said that after approaching the principal for a sanitary pad, she was asked to leave the classroom and forced to stand outside for nearly an hour.  

 The father has written to the Department of Women's Welfare, the State Women's Commission, the District Magistrate, and the District Inspector of Schools (DIOS) to voice his disgust.

Similar incidents have occurred worldwide where menstruating students are denied access to restrooms.

In Washington, a middle school teacher was been placed on administrative leave after a student and her dad raised concerns about her being denied access to the bathroom while menstruating.

According to the state's law, school districts and private schools must provide menstrual hygiene products at no cost in all gender-neutral bathrooms, as well as in bathrooms designated for female students, at schools serving grades six through twelve.

These laws aim to reduce the stigma around menstruation; however, they are often more concerned with the availability of menstrual hygiene products than with access to restrooms.

Reference:

1. Law & Crime. "‘Go Sit Down’: Teacher Denied Menstruating Middle School Student Bathroom Access, Teen Says." Law and Crime. Accessed January 28, 2025. https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/go-sit-down-teacher-denied-menstruating-middle-school-student-bathroom-access-teen-says/.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Dr. Puja Devi/MSM)