Women in Uttarakhand continue to grapple with health, hygiene & domestic abuse

DEHRADUN: With the International Women’s Day being observed today, a look at the Human Development Report (HDR) of Uttarakhand as well as the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) shows that the women in the state continue to grapple with medical issues as well as domestic abuse. The recent NFHS survey for instance found that over 30% of women aged between 15 and 24 years are not using hygienic methods of protection during their menstrual cycle .

Dr Chitra Joshi, head of the gynaecology department at Government Doon Medical College & Hospital (GDMCH) told TOI that most of the women who visit the hospital have to be sensitised about menstrual health. “We have come across women of all ages from both rural and urban areas who are not aware about how to maintain hygiene during their period cycle. Many of them are still using clothes instead of sanitary pads which often causes infection," she said.

According to the Human Development Report, more than half the women in far-off districts like Chamoli are still giving birth at home without the assistance of any skilled personnel. Also, as per the report, around 13% women are at the receiving end of domestic abuse and have been beaten up by their husbands at some point in their lives.

Women rights activists say that the percentage of abuse is in reality much higher as domestic violence is often not reported. “Many cases simply go unreported since it is considered a stigma if a wife reports her husband to the police,” said Renu Singh, founder of Samadhan, an NGO that helps women in distress.

She added that much of the issues concerning women are there because “a systematic discrimination against females starts from childhood onwards.” “The percentage of boys attending private schools is higher, while only 29% of girls study after the age of 19 and as a result, their participation in the work force gets reduced. Therefore, we need to change things at the family level.”