When GST proposals were circulating in the nation, hundreds of women across the country protested against levying tax on a bare necessity. However, despite countless posts on social media, thousands of tweets and a flurry of open letters, July came and women were asked to pay 12 per cent GST on sanitary napkins, tampons and menstrual cups. While the impact of this tax will definitely be greater for the rural populace, city dwellers won't be having any easier, as in a month, a woman spends at least Rs. 200-300 on this necessity. And let's not forget the female population dealing with conditions like PCOS that can result in bleeding for more than a week. As women raise their voice on various platforms, we spoke to students who tell us how this move is affecting them.Engineering student Prajakta Soni says, "For hostelites, every penny counts, as we live on a tight budget. If someone thinks that girls might be getting extra allowances, they are wrong. We too pay for petrol, food and other basic needs. And we end up paying extra for our hygiene. Does the government not want women to care for their hygiene?" Another hostelite, Shweta Malviya shares that there's always someone looking for a sanitary napkin. "It is always a hassle. You find someone or the other going around the hostel asking for extra pads," she says, while Joohi Singh, another student, adds, "It is not just rural women, but women across the country who will suffer."Voicing their angst against making bangles, kumkum and bindis tax-free, students alsoquestion whether the government thinks getting married is the ultimate goal for an Indian woman. Design student Piyali Sen shares, "For at least 20-25 years a woman will not even need these things in her daily routine, but pads are required right frompuberty, which could be as young as the age of 11." Megha Saxena adds, "It is embarrassing that the government values adornment over health and hygiene. Would they like to see more absenteeism in classes, because girls would now be trying to ration their pads?"While the government is trying hard to justify their decision of taxing sanitary pads, a couple of companies in Mumbai have brought hope for women through minor alterations in their leave policy. For the first time in India, two media companies have doled out 'First Day of Period' leave for their female employees, wherein they can either take the day off, or work from a more comfortable environment like home.Taking a leap of faith, an MLA from Surkhi constituency of Sagar District, Parul Sahu has written a letter to finance minister Arun Jaitley to roll back the GST on sanitary napkins. She maintains that she wrote the letter after much discussion with students, working professionals and NGOs. The letter reads, "In a country where majority women cannot afford sanitary napkins, levying a 12 per cent tax will make the scenario worse for rural and semi-urban areas. The government is actively taking initiatives to make free or low-cost sanitary napkins available to ensure better health and hygiene. Therefore, I have full faith that you will review the decision and withdraw the tax.""It is hard to believe that this was passed with the consensus of women in the panel. How can the government tax something that ensures our reproductive health? The policymakers have stumped us with their misguided understanding of the female anatomy.""Being the sarpanch of a village, I am connected to both rural and urban areas equally. While NGOs and companies are coming up with newer initiatives to sensitise rural women, levying a 12 per cent tax on pads has set us back by 10 years. The government needs to rethink their decision of taxing menstrual commodities.""Menstruation is an essential biological part for human race to propagate. Every girl gets period for half of her life without choice. In this case affordability and accessibility to sanitary napkins for girls of all strata becomes highly important. In that scenario levying a tax of 12% on a commodity that is a basic need for women all over makes this difficult. It is very important for a lady's reproductive health. This particular commodity is even essential to all the policymakers sitting in the finance department itself! The least here we can do is make the society more menstrual friendly, and not the reverse. We cannot talk about women empowerment with such practices."

Stay updated with all the Bhopal Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.