Home spaces still a taboo for menstruating women

PERAMBALUR: In the remote village of Inam Agaram in the district, tradition plays a vital role when it comes to a section of menstruating women. Despite the obvious changes in lifestyle, entering the house during their menstrual days is considered a taboo for these women.
Though the tradition, which is believed to be over a century and considered very backward, these women, hailing from the dalit community, have no choice but to go to a special concrete ‘hut’ during their menstrual days.In the case of school going girls, not only are they made to take all their belongings, but also carry their books and mobile phones with them. Strangely, while they are confined to the ‘hut’ they are also given the freedom to go to schools and colleges during the day.
The small structure called ‘muttukkadu’ has an asbestos roof on top and is surrounded by bushes. It is unprotected by doors. Adolescent girls and women, irrespective of their age are expected to stay there for a few days after their period begins. The 300-odd members of the dalit community, which resides in the slum part of Inam Agaram village near V Kalathur in Veppanthattai taluk, believe that breaking the practice would invoke the wrath of the village god.
“We have been following the practice for more than a century. It is our belief that our village god will punish any person who defies the rules by staying at home during menstruation,” said 50-year-old Raj who lives in the area. Poongathai, 45, even has an incident to narrate. Ten years ago, she said, a woman had chosen to stay at home during her period. After a couple of days, the woman died, reinforcing the belief of many villagers that breaking the custom could lead to disaster.
The girls these days are not accustomed to the practice, she added. “Our girls have no fear or hesitation to stay in the ‘muttukkadu’ because they are accompanied by their mother or sister. There is no restriction on going to school, college or work on those days. But they should stay away from the house. Our girls spend their time on mobile phones,” she said.
A research team from department of women studies at Bharathidasan University (BDU) visited the village a few years ago for a documentary. “Their practice had become an integral part of their life. They did not want to give it up because they feared the wrath of the village god. Such practice continues in some places in the state. We advised them to construct at least a proper building for the purpose,” Dr S Suba, assistant professor at BDU.
The structure, which was earlier a thatched hut was converted into a concrete building five years ago after requests from the district welfare department. However, villagers chose to ignore repeated advices from the officials to completely abandon the practice. Apparently fearing a stronger reaction from villagers, the officials gradually stopped asking them to change.