With populations rising, changes in lifestyle, and increased tourism, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands face the challenge of managing waste, which can lead to serious health and ecological impacts. Let’s see how the village of Wandoor is keeping itself clean.
For over 30 years, the women in the village of Wandoor in the South Andamans have been burying their menstrual waste, especially sanitary pads, deep in the ground. While pads were introduced to the island decades ago, disposing of them is still a challenge.
According to a 2022 study by the Centre for Science and Environment, titled ‘Sanitary Waste Management in India: Challenges and Agenda’, “Advocacy group Menstrual Hygeine Alliance India (MHAI) estimates that more than 12.3 billion sanitary pads are used in India every year. Only 36% of menstruating women use sanitary pads in India but through extensive menstrual education, the use of safer menstrual hygiene products including sanitary pads is increasing. But this increases the problem of unsafe disposal of sanitary pads.”
Swachh Bharat guidelines state that sanitary pads should be segregated from other solid waste before disposal and then it should be incinerated. However, due to taboos and stigmas attached to menstruation, segregation and handing over sanitary napkins to waste collectors are avoided by women who prefer either burning, burying or dumping it in the open. A significant portion of sanitary waste ends up in landfills.
Through an initiative called Sea Change, Dakshin Foundation has implemented a programme to support the local panchayat towards sustainable waste management as well as make women aware of sustainable menstrual hygiene practices. Not only has this village started at-home segregation, they are now rethinking their strategy regarding waste like diapers and sanitary napkins. While the panchayat is still facing challenges in waste management, from collection to manpower, behavioural change is slowly trickling in.
Through Dakshin’s Youth Ambassador programme, young women from the local villages engage other women about menstrual health practices through intimate conversations. Many women used cloth pads until sanitary pads were introduced through school. However, due to taboos associated with menstruation, they were not able to wash and especially dry their cloth pads openly, thus leading to infections.
Through these conversations, not only are women getting a space to talk about health, but they’re also learning about alternatives to sanitary napkins.
The lead image on top shows waste and sanitation workers cleaning the beach. (Photo by Sweta Daga )
Sweta Daga is a multimedia independent journalist based in Bangalore. She works at the intersection of climate and social justice.
