'No one is impure': SFI condemns Tamil Nadu school for making menstruating Dalit girl sit outside class

NEW DELHI: A class 8 Dalit girl from a private school in Tamil Nadu was made to sit outside the classroom because she was menstruating. The incident has triggered widespread concern over the continued prevalence of discriminatory menstrual practices in schools.

The practice reflects a deep-seated social stigma where menstruating women are considered “impure”. The incident brings to mind a similar tragedy in 2018 in Tamil Nadu, where a 14-year-old girl died during Cyclone Gaja as she was kept outside as a part of the practice of isolation during menstruation.

In Maharashtra and many other parts of India, the tradition of keeping menstruating girls in a separate hut called “gaokor” is still widely followed. “In India, menstruation still remains as taboo, embedded in the caste hierarchy of purity and pollution, and women are considered 'impure' during that 'time of the month,” the press release said.

Call for awareness campaigns

The Students' Federation of India (SFI) has condemned the incident. The SFI criticised the lack of proactive measures by governments to challenge these taboos through awareness campaigns aimed at students and parents. While the Tamil Nadu government responded with action, extensive work needed to eradicate such practices.

The SFI has reiterated its demand for accessible menstrual hygiene facilities, free distribution of sanitary napkins in schools, and regular discussion on menstrual and reproductive health.

“The Students' Federation of India reiterates its demand of ensuring a safe menstruation for all, providing sanitary napkins free of cost for students and a sustained discussion of female health. Nobody is impure,” the press release said.