Traditions that ostracize women during menstruation continue to be the norm in this tribal village, the tribal community in Gadchiroli practices a custom called ‘kurma’, in which women who are menstruating stay away from their homes and rest in a separate living quarters for the isolation period. If societies refuse to condone practices that turn women out of their homes every month, at least the experience should be humanising. And that is what Sunanda Tulavi, the sarpanch of Dudhmala Gram Panchayat, along with an NGO has achieved.
In a relief to women from the tribal community, this 26-year-old has helped set up a modern resting home or period home. Speaking to PTI, Tulavi said, “There is a practice in tribal villages, where girls and woman isolate themselves and stay in ‘kurma’ homes when they menstruate. However, these temporary homes were in a dilapidated condition and lacked basic amenities such as water, electricity among other requirements.”
Tulavi, who got elected to the post earlier this year, decided to approach NGO Kherwadi Social Welfare Association, Mumbai, to construct a modern period home in Fasli Tola village. Meetings were held with village women, who also helped in the construction of the quarters, terming the arrangement as shramdaan (labour donation), she said.
Plastic bottles and sand were used to construct the home, which can house 13 to 14 women. The house has one large room, a toilet, a cupboard, beds, mattresses, fans and solar-powered electricity supply. The organisation has built four period homes in Dhanora taluka with the help of local women, and more such houses will be built by June 15, one of the personnel of the NGO said.