Yunus Alvi/Mewat

An OTT platform has decided to capture the revolutionary changes in the attitudes of the people towards menstruation in Haryana’s Mewat region for showcasing it to the world as a short film.

The movie tentatively names as ‘Period Chart' is based on the stories appearing in the media about how the local in the Muslim-dominant region are making charts of the periods of women folk in the family and placing them at  key positions in the house. This is leading to dealing with the sense of shame and self-cursing by women on this biological function of a woman’s body. This trend has also helped men folk become aware and sensitive about the special needs like use of sanitary towels and taking rest  of women in these days of the month.

There was a time when the women of Haryana kept menstruation as painful period of four to five days during which a woman bleeds. They would stay away from kitchen and and sometimes live in the dilapiodated or uncomfortable outhouse. They were shy of going out to buy sanitary napkins and men would always pretend they have no idea of it.

However, after an NGO started working on ending the shame of periods, men and women are no longer considering menstruation as a taboo.

The making of the film was announced by Mohammad Taufiqe, the producer of blockbuster TV serials like Diya Oor Baati, Chanakya and Jai-Jai Bajrangbali.

According to Sunil Jaglan, Director of the ‘Selfie with Daughter Foundation, who started the period chart campaign, the issue of women’s health and hygiene related to menstruation is still a taboo in joint families.

“On the one hand, people are buying plots on the moon, and on the another side women are being treated as second grade humans due to a biological and a natural process,” he said.

Jaglan said that while working in Mewat during the Selfie with Daughter campaign, she observed the sufferings of women he decided to break this taboo.

It’s the turn of the Film world to highlight period chart campaign that has changed lives of many women in the last 6 months.

The shooting of the film is going on and it is expected to be released on the OTT platform on May 28, on the occasion of International Period Day. He told that this short film revolves around this campaign and also includes his interview.

Period chart director Mohammad Taufiq said that he came to know about this campaign through social media. This is a unique and inspiring campaign in itself, which will give a new direction to the society and will also bring change. That is why a film is being made about this campaign.

Sunil Jaglan is former sarpanch of Babipur village that was the first to be turned into a digital panchayat by him. His film on women and rural empowerment Sunrise has received the Swarna Kamal Award for Best Documentary by the President.

His film has also won the best documentsry award in Ner York Film festival.