Twinkle Khanna urges people to talk about menstruation

Mumbai: Former Bollywood actress, entrepreneur and author Twinkle Khanna urged people to talk about menstruation – which is still considered a taboo in India.

Launching a campaign for conversations on menstruation, Twinkle said that there is no shame in menstruation and that people should talk about it.

"No shame in menstruation. Join Water Aid India and Dasra to get talking menstruation," Twinkle tweeted on Thursday.

No shame in Menstruation. Join @WaterAidIndia and @dasra to get talking #menstruation. https://t.co/jMknM4oZAr — Twinkle Khanna (@mrsfunnybones) May 25, 2017

Also, the page for the Water Aid India cause read: "There is no shame in menstruation. Join us on Menstrual Hygiene Day in ending stigma around periods.

"The importance of menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is mostly neglected. Menstrual hygiene is a taboo subject; a topic that many women are uncomfortable discussing in public.

"Girls and women continue to face significant challenges in managing menstruation - in a safe and hygienic manner because of low levels of awareness about menstruation and menstrual hygiene, lack of access to safe products, and lack of access to water, sanitation and hygiene services.

"Underlying this are widely held beliefs that consider menstruation to be polluting and menstruating girls and women as impure."

WaterAid has been working in India since 1986. It focuses on water, sanitation and hygiene and seeks to improve access to safe water, sanitation and promote improved hygiene for all.

Dasra is a strategic philanthropy foundation that nurtures partnerships to create social change.

Twinkle is producing a film titles "Padman", a biopic on Arunachalam Muruganantha, a man who created a revolution in the field of affordable menstrual hygiene.

The film is being helmed by R Balki and features Twinkle's National Award winning husband Akshay Kumar with actresses Radhika Apte and Sonam Kapoor.

Menstrual Hygiene Day is held on 28th May each year globally to call attention to and normalise menstruation.

(With IANS inputs)