Bringing a change, through an e-mail

The quote "We don't meet people by accident. They are meant to cross our path for a reason" isn't alien to us these days. With the increasing use of technology, 'meeting' doesn't mean 'physical' it may drop to a 'virtual' one as well. In this COVID-19 era, the term 'meeting' actually translates to a virtual one. Being a journalist, I have come across many people officially and unofficially, but some of them continue to inspire me for the good things they did or the things they continue to do. One such person was Justy Jain Thomas. You may wonder why this person now? Because it's important to know her. Staying indoors, she proved that a person can 'be the change' if they are determined to make it happen.

Let's start from where it all began. With COVID-19 lockdown in March, most people lost their jobs. Daily wage labourers were the first victims of the upsurge in unemployment. However, relief kits were offered to the needy. Making ends meet to get the provisions got sorted, but, one essential was missing from the kits. Any guess? Sanitary napkins were that missing component. But what did Justy do for the same? She wrote an e-mail mentioning the crisis to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan.

Detailing about the crisis, Justy says, "Dealing with the pandemic condition, most of us have refrained from going out. This is the time when we realise the lesser discussed issues like menstruation. Though we boast that we are in a modern era, women barely discuss it. Most of them don't express their need for sanitary napkins to the men folks of their house as they are the only ones to venture out to buy essential during the lockdown period." Our country is in the Unlock phase, but isn't it still an issue? If you would argue no, then I would surely introduce you to villages where sanitary napkins are a luxury! Yes! I mean it!

Justy recollects about a UN Women post which addressed this issue. But why is it still unheard, she questions? "Health and hygiene can be achieved completely, only if menstrual hygiene is also attained. Surprisingly, people barely talk about it, though there are many organisations across the globe with a holistic goal of empowering women. We are unsure if someone is working towards it in silence, but still, the government should also initiate in addressing this issue because there would be hardly anyone who would come forward," explains the 22-year-old.

Instead of expecting someone to be the change, Justy set on foot, online! She wrote a letter to PM Narendra Modi and CM of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan. "The letter addressed the missing of sanitary napkins among the relief kits and it would be difficult for a daily wages dependant family to afford sanitary napkins during this period," describes the final year law student.  Also, based on Justy's suggestion, Aries Group of Companies included sanitary napkins in their relief kits which were distributed to over 2000 families.

Suggesting a few key solutions, Justy concludes, "It is already late to include sanitary napkins in relief materials kit right now. Following proper precautionary measures, sanitary napkins can be distributed to each household. It is not difficult for our government to get the data of women in each household. Accordingly, a few packets of sanitary napkins can be distributed as it is the need of the hour."