Indian Women Speak Out About A Government Tax that Declares Certain Feminine Hygiene Products 'Nonessential'
Last month, the Indian government rolled out a new tax plan — the Goods and Service Tax — labeling sanitary products "nonessential," making them eligible for a 12 percent tax. The increase in the cost of sanitary napkins will force many women already living on an extremely tight budget, to reconsider usage of feminine hygiene products.
Only 12 percent of Indian women have access to sanitary products. This number also largely reflects the realities of urban India. Women who live in the rural part of the country, about 75 percent of India’s female population, have far less access to affordable hygiene products.
Most women use old cloth; others, who are even less fortunate, use leaves and dung cakes to soak menstrual blood. ...