Member of Parliament Raghav Chadha raised concerns in Parliament about the persistent social stigma surrounding menstruation and the difficulties many girls face in maintaining menstrual hygiene.
The Aam Aadmi Party leader from Punjab said that while menstruation is a natural biological process, the stigma attached to it continues to impact the education, health and dignity of millions of girls across the country.
Chadha argued that when girls are forced to miss school due to the lack of sanitary pads, clean water or proper privacy, the issue cannot be viewed as an individual problem.
According to him, such situations reflect a collective failure of society to address a basic need that directly affects the lives and futures of young girls.
Periods are natural. Stigma is not.
— Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) March 13, 2026
If a girl misses school because there are no sanitary pads, no water and no privacy, it is not her personal problem. It is our collective failure.
We live in a country where alcohol and cigarettes are sold openly, but sanitary pads are still… pic.twitter.com/C0KJt4du8J
‘A Biological Fact Turned Into Social Taboo’
During his remarks, Chadha pointed out what he described as a contradiction in societal attitudes toward everyday products.
He said that alcohol and cigarettes are openly sold across the country, yet sanitary pads are often handed over wrapped in newspaper, as if they must be hidden from public view.
The MP said that over time, a natural biological reality has been transformed into a social taboo, turning a matter rooted in science into a topic that society prefers to keep silent about.
‘Menstrual Hygiene Is About Dignity, Not Charity’
Chadha later reiterated his views in a post on the social media platform X.
In the post, he wrote that “periods are natural, stigma is not.” He stressed that if a girl misses school due to the absence of sanitary pads, water, or privacy, it should not be seen as her personal problem but rather a failure of society as a whole.
He also emphasised that menstrual hygiene should not be treated as charity or a favour.
According to him, the issue is deeply linked with health, education and equality, and above all it is a matter of dignity for women and girls.
Over 35 Crore Women and Girls Affected
While speaking in Parliament, Chadha highlighted the scale of the problem, stating that more than 35 crore women and girls in India are affected by issues related to menstrual hygiene.
He said that a country cannot truly claim to be progressive if millions of girls continue to face fear, shame and silence over a natural aspect of life.
True Progress Lies in Breaking the Silence
Chadha concluded by saying that real progress will be achieved only when every girl in India can attend school without fear or embarrassment, live with dignity and speak openly about menstruation without stigma.
Only then, he added, can society truly claim that it has moved forward.