A new inhuman practice has come into light from Beed district of Maharashtra. Many women in the district have no wombs. The matter has been taken in suo moto cognizance by Rekha Sharma, Chairperson of the National Commission For Women. She has urged the Chief Secretary Of Maharashtra to take swift and immediate action on the same.
A report in the Hindu Business Line on Wednesday highlighted the matter and investigated the same. According to the report, hysterectomy - the process of removing a woman’s uterus has become a new trend in the Beed District of Maharashtra.
A report in the Hindu Business Line on Wednesday highlighted the matter and investigated the same. According to the report, hysterectomy - the process of removing a woman’s uterus has become a new trend in the Beed District of Maharashtra. The report indicates, that this crime is propagated by the cane-cutting contractors in the district. This is done because they are unwilling to hire women who menstruate. About 50 percent of women in Vanjarwadi have no wombs and they say it is the norm in the village to remove the uterus after having two or three children.
Menstruation- Hindrance In Work
Contractors have a problem with the menstrual cycle of the women because it hinders the course of work. During their periods, women would often ask for leave of a day or two. This is unacceptable in the cane cutting culture and hence it attracts fine, instead of allowing the leave.
Lakhs of cane cutters migrate to western Maharashtra from October to March, which is the cane cutting season in the sugar belt. As the drought in the region intensifies, the migration also doubles. Contractors have a problem with the menstrual cycle of the women because it hinders the course of work. During their periods, women would often ask for leave of a day or two. This is unacceptable in the cane cutting culture and hence it attracts fine, instead of allowing the leave. To get rid of this, Beed women find it better to remove uterus instead of going through the negative consequences.
Interestingly, the money for the surgery is provided to them as advance and is later recovered from their wages.
The contractors, however, said that they don’t force women to go through hysterectomy, rather it’s completely a woman’s choice to go through the same. Beed women, however, say that they cannot afford to lose even a single rupee and hence they opt for hysterectomy. Interestingly, the money for the surgery is provided to them as an advance and is later recovered from their wages. Sadly, girls as young as 25 years under the procedure. Hysterectomy has adverse effects on the health of women as they might go through hormonal imbalance, weight loss and other health issues.
The Unfortunate Life Of Cane Cutter Women
The women cane cutters also complain that there are no proper bathrooms near the cane fields which makes it difficult for them during periods.
The Beed women cane cutters also complain that there are no proper bathrooms near the cane fields which makes it difficult for them during periods. Moreover, they also report repeated sexual exploitation by contractors and their men. Additionally, the medical practitioners in the district would prescribe hysterectomy even if the women report white discharge or abdominal pain.
Menstrual Leave has constantly been ignored. There have been numerous petitions for the same, they even gain momentum, but ultimately remain unheard. Bihar is the only state to give two days of menstrual leave to its female workers since 1992. Certain studies reveal that efficiency of women is low during the first few days of menstruation and hence providing a leave would not at all affect the productivity of the organisations. Emphasis, undoubtedly, should be on efficiency and productivity of a person and not the long working hours. It is the need of the hour to address this issue, the way it deserves to be.
Picture credit: Newsd
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Anushika Srivastava is an Intern with SheThePeople.Tv
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