Welcome move to address period poverty

In a most welcome move, the Government has waived import duties on raw materials necessary to produce female sanitary products, which would reduce the cost of these essential items. Accordingly, customs import duty of 15%, cess duty of 10%-15% and Port and Airport Development Levy (PAL) of 10% have been waived on importation of five raw materials. 

Concessions are to be provided to import finished sanitary products as well. It is expected that the price of a pack of 10 sanitary napkins produced locally will be reduced by Rs. 50 to Rs. 60 with these tax concessions, and the maximum retail price of a pack will be Rs. 260-Rs. 270.

These tax reductions are particularly commendable during a period of severe economic constraints. It is sound policy to recognise that the cost of not taking this step outweighs doing so since the economic and social cost of period poverty is far greater than any income generated through import taxes.

These columns had called for such tax reductions in order to address the concerning issue of period poverty, which is defined as a lack of access to menstrual products, hygiene facilities, waste management, and education, affecting many women, causing physical, mental, and emotional challenges. The stigma that shrouds menstruation further prevents individuals from talking about it. Period poverty like other forms of poverty can be debilitating, humiliating and degrading to individuals. It can take different forms and has emotional, physical, and mental health effects on persons.

A report published in March this year by the Advocata Institute noted that over 50% of women in the country experience period poverty, suggesting half of households with women of menstruating age do not report spending any money on sanitary napkins. A study done in 2015 by UNICEF found that more than half of the adolescent girls in Sri Lanka did not want or weren’t allowed to go to school during their periods, while 37% missed one or two school days each month. For most, fear of staining, pain and discomfort are the main reasons for not going to school.

While reduction in taxes will contribute towards making sanitary products affordable, there is much more that needs to be done to make these products readily available to women. The acknowledgement by the Government that sanitary products are an essential item is an important step in this regard.

Two months ago, Scotland became the first place to offer sanitary products free of charge at a national scale. Providing access to free sanitary products is considered as fundamental to equality and dignity and removes the financial barriers to accessing them, according to the Scottish Social Justice Secretary. Other countries such as New Zealand and Kenya, distribute sanitary products for free in public schools. While Sri Lanka may not currently be able to offer these products for free, it can still do much more to improve accessibility and awareness in addition to cost reduction.

The Government can also take appropriate measures to address the needless stigma that is associated with female menstruation and the usage of sanitary products. As the ‘non-controversy’ of 2019 when then presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa made an electrical promise to provide these products free showed, this is still an issue that cannot be discussed openly. Cultural and religious practices which deem female menstruation impure and limit women’s access to places of religious worship and participation in religious activities is against the fundamental norms of equality and a violation of basic rights. Such outdated concepts should be addressed through education and increased awareness.

While commending the Government for this very important step, it should do much more to address the continuing issue of period poverty and stigma associated with menstruation.