என் மகளே! நீ வாழ்க! நீ நல்ல முயற்சியுடையவளாய் இருக்கிறாய்! நல்ல சூழலைப் பெற்றவளாய் இருக்கிறாய்! நல்ல குணங்களை இயற்கையாகவே பெற்றிருக்கிறாய்! நன்கு உழைப்பவளாய் நீ வளர்கின்றாய்! வாழ்வில் வெற்றி பெறுகின்ற எல்லா உடன்பாட்டு எண்ணங்களையும் நீ கொண்டிருக்கிறாய்! நல்லவாழ்வு பெறுவதற்கான எல்லா அம்சங்களும் உன் உள்ளும் புறமும் நன்கு நிரம்பி இருக்கிறது.

உன்னிடத்தில் தெய்வீகம் நிரம்பி உள்ளது! நீ அருளாற்றல் பெற்றவளாக, நல்லுறவுடனும் நலத்துடனும் வாழ்க வளமுடன் என அனுதினமும் அவனை வாழ்த்துங்கள்.

அவன் ஆழ்ந்து தூங்கும்பொழுது அருகில் சென்று திரும்ப திரும்ப சொல்லுங்கள். அவனது ஆல்பா மனநிலை அதனை ஏற்று ஏற்று, அவனது ஆள்மனம் தூண்டப்படும். ஆள்மனம் தூண்டப்பட்டால் படிப்படியாக அவனுள் மாற்றங்கள் நிகழும் உடன்பாட்டுச் சூழல் ஏற்படும். இதைச் சொல்லச் சொல்ல உங்கள் கண்ணோட்டம் மாறும்.

அவன் மீது உங்களுக்கு நம்பிக்கை உருவாகும் உங்கள் பேச்சும், தொனியும் மாறும். எண்ண அலைகள் உங்கள் குழந்தையை தாக்குவதற்குப் பதிலாக, அவனைத் தழுவி அன்பு செய்யும். மனம் மாறும் மாற்றங்கள் நிகழும் வாழ்வு புத்துணர்ச்சியோடு மலரும் வாழ்த்தி வாழ்த்திப் பாருங்கள் வளத்தை சேருங்கள்.

குடும்பத்தில் அமைதி நிலவும், குடும்பம் கோவிலாக மாறும், அற்புதம் நிகழும், அன்பு, நட்பு மேலோங்கும் பார்ப்பவர்களின் பார்வையில் வித்தியாசம் தெரியும் குடும்பத்தில் முன்னேற்றம் ஏற்படும்.

deduct the hidden camera

பெண்கள் பயண நிமித்தமாக வெளியூர் விடுதிகளில் தங்க நேரிடும்போது அங்கு சில அயோக்கியர்களால் அறையினுள் ஊசிமுனை அளவேயுள்ள கண்ணுக்குப்புலப்படாத ரகசிய கேமராக்கள் பொருந்தியுள்ளதை எளிதாக கண்டறியலாம்.

முதலில் #வெளிச்சம் வராமல் அறைக்கதவு, ஜன்னல்களை அடைத்துவிட்டு உங்கள் மொபைலில் உள்ள கேமராவை ஆன் செய்யுங்கள், மேலும் மொபைலில் புகைப்படம் எடுக்கும்போது வரும் பிளாஷ் வெளிச்சத்தை ஆப் செய்துவிட்டு அறையில்லுள்ள சுவர் மற்றும் பொருட்களை புகைப்படம் எடுங்கள்.

இப்போது புகைப்படத்தை கவனியுங்கள்.

ஊசிமுனை அளவேயுள்ள ரகசிய #கேமரா அறையினுள் பொருத்தப்பட்டிருப்பின் அது இருட்டுப்புகைப்படத்தில் சிகப்பு நிற புள்ளிகளாகத் தெரியும்.

இதைவைத்து அறையினுள் இரகசிய கேமராக்கள் பொருந்தியுள்ளதை அறியலாம்.

Many Indian women are discovering the benefits of menstrual cup

In 2009, when Avani Mathur* was on her way to Idanha-a-Nova, Portugal, for the biennial Boom Festival, she got her period. Now at no rate was this an extraordinary occurrence, except the timing was rather inconvenient for the 33-year-old lawyer — Boom is one of Europe’s most popular counterculture festivals which espouses a self-sustainable culture of collecting one’s own waste and recycling. “I was camping at the festival and while the grounds offered organic toilets, they were absolutely filthy. Besides, I didn’t want to be the odd one out using disposable tampons and sanitary pads and there were no places really to dispose of such things, the bathrooms were communal,” says Mathur.

Multicoloured Mooncups

She stepped into a departmental store to look for a solution and found the menstrual cup. “I bought the Mooncup. It’s a bit rubbery, folds and slips in easily. It was washable and reusable and I would probably use it again, though it’s pretty hard to find a nice one in India,” she says. Not anymore. At least three Indian companies manufacture and sell menstrual cups today and growing awareness about the product is leading several women to make the switch.

A menstrual cup is shaped like a bell and is usually made of medical grade silicone. It is flexible and is worn inside the vagina to catch menstrual blood. Once full, it can be emptied into the toilet or sink, washed and re-inserted. The cup does not pose a hindrance to activities such as swimming and yoga, but you should avoid inverted poses all the same. “I mainly work from home, but I do spend a lot of time outside and until recently, travelled a fair amount. Before, I used disposable pads and hated the rash and irritation they caused me, not to mention the hassle of disposing of them wherever I went,” says Sunayana Roy, 33, writer and theatreperson. The Bangalore resident first heard about menstrual cups from a friend in an email group and, in late 2009, she ordered the Keeper online. Available in America since 1987, the Keeper is arguably the world’s first commercially viable menstrual cup. “It is made of latex and I chose it because it seemed a better choice at the time than silicone. Insertion and removal were not huge problems but it took me some time to achieve a good seal and avoid leaks,” she says.

A few months after Roy began using the Keeper, Ashish Malani’s MediAceso Healthcare Pvt Ltd launched the Shecup in January 2010. “At the time, there were only six-seven global brands and we were not only the first in India but in Asia as well,” says Malani, a chartered accountant in Mumbai. He started the company with his brother Manish, and a handful of young professionals, who volunteer time to conduct menstrual health management awareness programmes in rural and urban educational institutes, women’s groups, housing societies and even at offices of the Taj group, Jet Airways, and Indigo Airlines. “Since we have no full-time employees, we are able to keep the cost low. A Shecup sells for Rs 695 along with an instruction booklet, wipes and a pouch,” he says.

Malani has faced several challenges in marketing the Shecup in India, and the impediment is closely linked to the ways in which women’s bodies are controlled by their families. “Conservative societies like ours do not accept internal application sanitary protections, such as tampons and the menstrual cup, especially before marriage,” he says. The Shecup has been tested as per US pharmacopoeia rules. In 2012-13, it was distributed as a part of a research project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation conducted by two American universities in 60 villages in Jehanabad district in Bihar.

The two other brands available are SilkyCup (currently running trials) and the Vcup (launched in 2013). Manufactured by Earth Care Solutions, a waste management service provider in Thrissur, Kerala, the Vcup is available for Rs 970 (inclusive of courier charges) and comes with a cup, a packet of soap strips, a sanitiser pen, four coin tissues, a user guide and a cotton pouch. “As soon as our product was ready, we launched our website and Facebook page. We placed ads in trade magazines and began talking to women’s self-help groups in Kerala. We go to schools, residences and have one-on-one interactions as much as possible,” says Rajesh Pisharody, chief operating officer of Earth Care Solutions. Approximately 25 units of the Vcup are sent out from the factory in Ahmedabad, to buyers in Bangalore, Pune and Chennai every month.

If the menstrual cup has to gain a toehold in India, it has to address the issue of affordability. A 2011 AC Nielsen and Plan International survey showed that of India’s 355 million menstruating women, only 12 per cent used sanitary napkins, 70 per cent women said that their families were unable to afford them. In comparison, menstrual cups are exorbitant. Amazon sells Indian brands such as Alx Care (Rs 700), SilkyCup (Rs 1,000) as well as international versions such as the DivaCup (Rs 2,690) and Lunette (Rs 2,845).

Malani says that a menstrual cup, if used properly, can last for decades. With the Shecup, the costs can be recovered within a year of use. “Even if your menstrual cup costs Rs 3,000, a good quality one can last for a minimum of three years. I remain cautious about cheap products, so I would say invest in a good make,” says Amruta Patil, writer and painter, who uses a size B Mooncup. “I only use my cup, except during train travel and overnight bus journeys that have dodgy bathroom breaks. The reason for this is that immaculate hygiene is the only demand the product makes of you. Your fingers need to be very clean. You need a place where you can tip over and wash it out. And the cup requires sterilisation-by-boiling between one menstrual cycle and the next. It’s a commitment, but one that most mindful, responsible women would not shun,” she says.

For those who can invest in the cup, its biggest draw is its environmental benefits. In an article published in 2013, Down To Earth calculated 36 million Indian women used sanitary napkins every month. “At an average usage of 12 napkins per woman per month, this would add up to 432 million soiled pads, weighing a staggering 9,000 mega tonnes, enough to cover a landfill spread over 24 hectares,” the article reports.

Meenakshi Reddy Madhavan is a recent convert and is “evangelical about going green”. “The reason I’m telling people to switch is just the sheer amount of non-biodegradable waste that’s accumulating all over the planet. We may not be able to stop the flow of waste personally, but we can at least slow it down by our choices,” says the 33-year-old author. Madhavan uses the Shecup and while she is getting accustomed it, there is room for improvement. “You have to first make an online bank transfer, then send them your details, and then they courier it to you. Also, I’d like different sizes. Currently, the Shecup comes in a one-size-fits-all, which as we know, is not the case with the human vagina,” she says.

 6254  33

• Comments (6)
• 
  

Multicoloured Mooncups In 2009, when Avani Mathur* was on her way to Idanha-a-Nova, Portugal, for the biennial Boom Festival, she got her period. Now at no rate was this an extraordinary occurrence, except the timing was rather inconvenient for the 33-year-old lawyer — Boom is one of Europe’s most popular counterculture festivals which espouses a self-sustainable culture of collecting one’s own waste and recycling. “I was camping at the festival and while the grounds offered organic toilets, they were absolutely filthy. Besides, I didn’t want to be the odd one out using disposable tampons and sanitary pads and there were no places really to dispose of such things, the bathrooms were communal,” says Mathur.
She stepped into a departmental store to look for a solution and found the menstrual cup. “I bought the Mooncup. It’s a bit rubbery, folds and slips in easily. It was washable and reusable and I would probably use it again, though it’s pretty hard to find a nice one in India,” she says. Not anymore. At least three Indian companies manufacture and sell menstrual cups today and growing awareness about the product is leading several women to make the switch.
A menstrual cup is shaped like a bell and is usually made of medical grade silicone. It is flexible and is worn inside the vagina to catch menstrual blood. Once full, it can be emptied into the toilet or sink, washed and re-inserted. The cup does not pose a hindrance to activities such as swimming and yoga, but you should avoid inverted poses all the same. “I mainly work from home, but I do spend a lot of time outside and until recently, travelled a fair amount. Before, I used disposable pads and hated the rash and irritation they caused me, not to mention the hassle of disposing of them wherever I went,” says Sunayana Roy, 33, writer and theatreperson. The Bangalore resident first heard about menstrual cups from a friend in an email group and, in late 2009, she ordered the Keeper online. Available in America since 1987, the Keeper is arguably the world’s first commercially viable menstrual cup. “It is made of latex and I chose it because it seemed a better choice at the time than silicone. Insertion and removal were not huge problems but it took me some time to achieve a good seal and avoid leaks,” she says.
Earth Care Solutions’s Vcup A few months after Roy began using the Keeper, Ashish Malani’s MediAceso Healthcare Pvt Ltd launched the Shecup in January 2010. “At the time, there were only six-seven global brands and we were not only the first in India but in Asia as well,” says Malani, a chartered accountant in Mumbai. He started the company with his brother Manish, and a handful of young professionals, who volunteer time to conduct menstrual health management awareness programmes in rural and urban educational institutes, women’s groups, housing societies and even at offices of the Taj group, Jet Airways, and Indigo Airlines. “Since we have no full-time employees, we are able to keep the cost low. A Shecup sells for Rs 695 along with an instruction booklet, wipes and a pouch,” he says.
Malani has faced several challenges in marketing the Shecup in India, and the impediment is closely linked to the ways in which women’s bodies are controlled by their families. “Conservative societies like ours do not accept internal application sanitary protections, such as tampons and the menstrual cup, especially before marriage,” he says. The Shecup has been tested as per US pharmacopoeia rules. In 2012-13, it was distributed as a part of a research project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation conducted by two American universities in 60 villages in Jehanabad district in Bihar.
Ashish Malani displays the Shecup The two other brands available are SilkyCup (currently running trials) and the Vcup (launched in 2013). Manufactured by Earth Care Solutions, a waste management service provider in Thrissur, Kerala, the Vcup is available for Rs 970 (inclusive of courier charges) and comes with a cup, a packet of soap strips, a sanitiser pen, four coin tissues, a user guide and a cotton pouch. “As soon as our product was ready, we launched our website and Facebook page. We placed ads in trade magazines and began talking to women’s self-help groups in Kerala. We go to schools, residences and have one-on-one interactions as much as possible,” says Rajesh Pisharody, chief operating officer of Earth Care Solutions. Approximately 25 units of the Vcup are sent out from the factory in Ahmedabad, to buyers in Bangalore, Pune and Chennai every month.
If the menstrual cup has to gain a toehold in India, it has to address the issue of affordability. A 2011 AC Nielsen and Plan International survey showed that of India’s 355 million menstruating women, only 12 per cent used sanitary napkins, 70 per cent women said that their families were unable to afford them. In comparison, menstrual cups are exorbitant. Amazon sells Indian brands such as Alx Care (Rs 700), SilkyCup (Rs 1,000) as well as international versions such as the DivaCup (Rs 2,690) and Lunette (Rs 2,845).
Malani says that a menstrual cup, if used properly, can last for decades. With the Shecup, the costs can be recovered within a year of use. “Even if your menstrual cup costs Rs 3,000, a good quality one can last for a minimum of three years. I remain cautious about cheap products, so I would say invest in a good make,” says Amruta Patil, writer and painter, who uses a size B Mooncup. “I only use my cup, except during train travel and overnight bus journeys that have dodgy bathroom breaks. The reason for this is that immaculate hygiene is the only demand the product makes of you. Your fingers need to be very clean. You need a place where you can tip over and wash it out. And the cup requires sterilisation-by-boiling between one menstrual cycle and the next. It’s a commitment, but one that most mindful, responsible women would not shun,” she says.
For those who can invest in the cup, its biggest draw is its environmental benefits. In an article published in 2013, Down To Earth calculated 36 million Indian women used sanitary napkins every month. “At an average usage of 12 napkins per woman per month, this would add up to 432 million soiled pads, weighing a staggering 9,000 mega tonnes, enough to cover a landfill spread over 24 hectares,” the article reports.
Meenakshi Reddy Madhavan is a recent convert and is “evangelical about going green”. “The reason I’m telling people to switch is just the sheer amount of non-biodegradable waste that’s accumulating all over the planet. We may not be able to stop the flow of waste personally, but we can at least slow it down by our choices,” says the 33-year-old author. Madhavan uses the Shecup and while she is getting accustomed it, there is room for improvement. “You have to first make an online bank transfer, then send them your details, and then they courier it to you. Also, I’d like different sizes. Currently, the Shecup comes in a one-size-fits-all, which as we know, is not the case with the human vagina,” she says.

- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/many-indian-women-are-discovering-the-benefits-of-menstrual-cup/#sthash.c5zW61U1.dpuf

 6254  33

• Comments (6)
• 
  

Multicoloured Mooncups In 2009, when Avani Mathur* was on her way to Idanha-a-Nova, Portugal, for the biennial Boom Festival, she got her period. Now at no rate was this an extraordinary occurrence, except the timing was rather inconvenient for the 33-year-old lawyer — Boom is one of Europe’s most popular counterculture festivals which espouses a self-sustainable culture of collecting one’s own waste and recycling. “I was camping at the festival and while the grounds offered organic toilets, they were absolutely filthy. Besides, I didn’t want to be the odd one out using disposable tampons and sanitary pads and there were no places really to dispose of such things, the bathrooms were communal,” says Mathur.
She stepped into a departmental store to look for a solution and found the menstrual cup. “I bought the Mooncup. It’s a bit rubbery, folds and slips in easily. It was washable and reusable and I would probably use it again, though it’s pretty hard to find a nice one in India,” she says. Not anymore. At least three Indian companies manufacture and sell menstrual cups today and growing awareness about the product is leading several women to make the switch.
A menstrual cup is shaped like a bell and is usually made of medical grade silicone. It is flexible and is worn inside the vagina to catch menstrual blood. Once full, it can be emptied into the toilet or sink, washed and re-inserted. The cup does not pose a hindrance to activities such as swimming and yoga, but you should avoid inverted poses all the same. “I mainly work from home, but I do spend a lot of time outside and until recently, travelled a fair amount. Before, I used disposable pads and hated the rash and irritation they caused me, not to mention the hassle of disposing of them wherever I went,” says Sunayana Roy, 33, writer and theatreperson. The Bangalore resident first heard about menstrual cups from a friend in an email group and, in late 2009, she ordered the Keeper online. Available in America since 1987, the Keeper is arguably the world’s first commercially viable menstrual cup. “It is made of latex and I chose it because it seemed a better choice at the time than silicone. Insertion and removal were not huge problems but it took me some time to achieve a good seal and avoid leaks,” she says.
Earth Care Solutions’s Vcup A few months after Roy began using the Keeper, Ashish Malani’s MediAceso Healthcare Pvt Ltd launched the Shecup in January 2010. “At the time, there were only six-seven global brands and we were not only the first in India but in Asia as well,” says Malani, a chartered accountant in Mumbai. He started the company with his brother Manish, and a handful of young professionals, who volunteer time to conduct menstrual health management awareness programmes in rural and urban educational institutes, women’s groups, housing societies and even at offices of the Taj group, Jet Airways, and Indigo Airlines. “Since we have no full-time employees, we are able to keep the cost low. A Shecup sells for Rs 695 along with an instruction booklet, wipes and a pouch,” he says.
Malani has faced several challenges in marketing the Shecup in India, and the impediment is closely linked to the ways in which women’s bodies are controlled by their families. “Conservative societies like ours do not accept internal application sanitary protections, such as tampons and the menstrual cup, especially before marriage,” he says. The Shecup has been tested as per US pharmacopoeia rules. In 2012-13, it was distributed as a part of a research project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation conducted by two American universities in 60 villages in Jehanabad district in Bihar.
Ashish Malani displays the Shecup The two other brands available are SilkyCup (currently running trials) and the Vcup (launched in 2013). Manufactured by Earth Care Solutions, a waste management service provider in Thrissur, Kerala, the Vcup is available for Rs 970 (inclusive of courier charges) and comes with a cup, a packet of soap strips, a sanitiser pen, four coin tissues, a user guide and a cotton pouch. “As soon as our product was ready, we launched our website and Facebook page. We placed ads in trade magazines and began talking to women’s self-help groups in Kerala. We go to schools, residences and have one-on-one interactions as much as possible,” says Rajesh Pisharody, chief operating officer of Earth Care Solutions. Approximately 25 units of the Vcup are sent out from the factory in Ahmedabad, to buyers in Bangalore, Pune and Chennai every month.
If the menstrual cup has to gain a toehold in India, it has to address the issue of affordability. A 2011 AC Nielsen and Plan International survey showed that of India’s 355 million menstruating women, only 12 per cent used sanitary napkins, 70 per cent women said that their families were unable to afford them. In comparison, menstrual cups are exorbitant. Amazon sells Indian brands such as Alx Care (Rs 700), SilkyCup (Rs 1,000) as well as international versions such as the DivaCup (Rs 2,690) and Lunette (Rs 2,845).
Malani says that a menstrual cup, if used properly, can last for decades. With the Shecup, the costs can be recovered within a year of use. “Even if your menstrual cup costs Rs 3,000, a good quality one can last for a minimum of three years. I remain cautious about cheap products, so I would say invest in a good make,” says Amruta Patil, writer and painter, who uses a size B Mooncup. “I only use my cup, except during train travel and overnight bus journeys that have dodgy bathroom breaks. The reason for this is that immaculate hygiene is the only demand the product makes of you. Your fingers need to be very clean. You need a place where you can tip over and wash it out. And the cup requires sterilisation-by-boiling between one menstrual cycle and the next. It’s a commitment, but one that most mindful, responsible women would not shun,” she says.
For those who can invest in the cup, its biggest draw is its environmental benefits. In an article published in 2013, Down To Earth calculated 36 million Indian women used sanitary napkins every month. “At an average usage of 12 napkins per woman per month, this would add up to 432 million soiled pads, weighing a staggering 9,000 mega tonnes, enough to cover a landfill spread over 24 hectares,” the article reports.
Meenakshi Reddy Madhavan is a recent convert and is “evangelical about going green”. “The reason I’m telling people to switch is just the sheer amount of non-biodegradable waste that’s accumulating all over the planet. We may not be able to stop the flow of waste personally, but we can at l choices,” says the 33-year-old author. Madhavan uses the Shecup and while she is getting accustomed it, there is room for improvement. “You have to first make an online bank transfer, then send them your details, and then they courier it to you. Also, I’d like different sizes. Currently, the Shecup comes in a one-size-fits-all, which as we know, is not the case with the human vagina,” she says.

- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/many-indian-women-are-discovering-the-benefits-of-menstrual-cup/#sthash.c5zW61U1.dpuf

A few months after Roy began using the Keeper, Ashish Malani’s MediAceso Healthcare Pvt Ltd launched the Shecup in January 2010. “At the time, there were only six-seven global brands and we were not only the first in India but in Asia as well,” says Malani, a chartered accountant in Mumbai. He started the company with his brother Manish, and a handful of young professionals, who volunteer time to conduct menstrual health management awareness programmes in rural and urban educational institutes, women’s groups, housing societies and even at offices of the Taj group, Jet Airways, and Indigo Airlines. “Since we have no full-time employees, we are able to keep the cost low. A Shecup sells for Rs 695 along with an instruction booklet, wipes and a pouch,” he says.
Malani has faced several challenges in marketing the Shecup in India, and the impediment is closely linked to the ways in which women’s bodies are controlled by their families. “Conservative societies like ours do not accept internal application sanitary protections, such as tampons and the menstrual cup, especially before marriage,” he says. The Shecup has been tested as per US pharmacopoeia rules. In 2012-13, it was distributed as a part of a research project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation conducted by two American universities in 60 villages in Jehanabad district in Bihar.
- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/many-indian-women-are-discovering-the-benefits-of-menstrual-cup/#sthash.c5zW61U1.dpuf

A few months after Roy began using the Keeper, Ashish Malani’s MediAceso Healthcare Pvt Ltd launched the Shecup in January 2010. “At the time, there were only six-seven global brands and we were not only the first in India but in Asia as well,” says Malani, a chartered accountant in Mumbai. He started the company with his brother Manish, and a handful of young professionals, who volunteer time to conduct menstrual health management awareness programmes in rural and urban educational institutes, women’s groups, housing societies and even at offices of the Taj group, Jet Airways, and Indigo Airlines. “Since we have no full-time employees, we are able to keep the cost low. A Shecup sells for Rs 695 along with an instruction booklet, wipes and a pouch,” he says.
Malani has faced several challenges in marketing the Shecup in India, and the impediment is closely linked to the ways in which women’s bodies are controlled by their families. “Conservative societies like ours do not accept internal application sanitary protections, such as tampons and the menstrual cup, especially before marriage,” he says. The Shecup has been tested as per US pharmacopoeia rules. In 2012-13, it was distributed as a part of a research project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation conducted by two American universities in 60 villages in Jehanabad district in Bihar.
- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/many-indian-women-are-discovering-the-benefits-of-menstrual-cup/#sthash.c5zW61U1.dpuf

Self-defence techniques to women free of cost

The school girls look skinny. But looks can be deceptive. In this case, they definitely are. For, these girls can pack a punch. They have learnt self-defence techniques, which they are capable of applying in any threatening situation, anywhere.

These girls are beneficiaries of a programme by the voluntary organisation Vajra, which teaches self-defence techniques based on the combat system Krav Maga to girls and women, free of cost. Resident of Luz Avenue, Mylapore, and founder of the NGO, Puja Malhotra says, “The Nirbhaya incident affected me a lot. I wanted to ensure personal safety for women and girls.”Puja decided on teaching Krav Maga, which borrows from Aikido, Jujutsu, boxing, and Judo.

“Krav Maga targets the attacker’s vulnerable points so as to neutralise him quickly. I prefer to describe Krav Maga as a ‘defensive tactics system’, a tactical and logically sound approach to dealing with violent confrontations,” she explains. An art and theatre promoter, Puja depends on a team of trainers to keep the initiative going. S. Sreeram and Manoj are the main instructors and co-founders of Vajra.

“ At present, we train students at seven Corporation and two private schools in the city. The classes are held during the physical training period. We are approaching other schools across the State. The students are given certificates after completion of their training. Self-defence should be made a part of the school curriculum. As we believe the seeds of violence against are sown at home, we counsel boy students and fathers of the girls trained by us to respect women. Periodically, we call the parents for a meeting where they are urged to give equal importance to their sons and daughters,” says Puja. She says the benefits of Krav Maga are far-reaching, instilling confidence in students who earlier retreated into the shadows and would be tongue-tied during group discussions.“Girl students, who have successfully completed training, teach others part-time and earn some money,” says Puja.

Vajra also conducts a two-day free training programme for physical trainers attached to schools in villages. “My aim is to start classes across India. I urge the central and state governments to make this system of self-defence a mandatory part of the school curriculum.” Puja Malhotra can be contacted at 98409 55556.

Menstrual cup Usage

What is the worst thing about the menstrual cup? The cost? The weirdness? The difficult insertion? The messy removal? The cumbersome cleaning?

Actually it’s none of the above. Women who have these problems generally get over them after a few cycles. And the cost, while high, is recovered. But there is one problem that just doesn’t go away. What you will often hear from women who use the cup is that it is life-changing. This cannot be reduced to the sum of saved money, time, environment or any such issue. “I love being able to swim,” a friend told me.“Just had a fantastic period,” glowed a yoga teacher. “I teach three-five classes every day and the cup is simply a marvel!”

“It is so nice not to feel wet all day,” said another. “Such a relief to have nothing to throw in the trash.” Just amazing to be able to do the many things we used to think twice about doing or skip altogether during that time. A question you will often hear from new users is, “Why, oh, why did I not find out about this before?”

What you rarely get to hear is about the worst thing. Sure, people will talk about having trouble getting started. Their questions are resolved pretty quickly, especially with so much information online including support groups dedicated to menstruation. Years ago, when I started using it, there were no such things. I had to make do with the tiny pamphlet that came with the cup. Though it may surprise all those who now rush to the Internet to clear doubts, this little slip of paper explained everything. I learned the C-fold, how to break the suction, how to clean the cup… soon there was nothing left to wonder about.

Before I used the cup, I used cloth pads for at least 10 years and disposable pads for another 10 before that. For all the 20-odd years that I used pads, I did not have to write the dates of my period on the calendar in order to remember when it came and went. How could I forget? Like those remembered where they were when they heard of Kennedy’s assassination, I could always remember where I was when Aunt Flo arrived, because I would have felt heavy, slow and encumbered in a way that left its impression on whatever else I was doing that day. When did I have my last period? The day my paper was due. They day I went to the post office. The day Mitra came for lunch. There was always a way to match the date with an event because awareness of my period always lurked in the background.

With the cup and its insert-and-forget-about-it ease, I simply cannot remember when my last period was. And in all these years of using the cup I haven’t managed to make a habit of writing it down either. Am I late? Early? No idea. Should I pack the cup for my trip tomorrow? How should I know? Of course, it is so small that I can keep it in my travel bag whenever I am not using it. So I must grudgingly admit that I actually don’t need to know. A weird feeling to have about my own cycle, something I did not ever know until the cup.

Not everyone experiences disappearance of pain, discomfort or even the slightest sense of sluggishness after switching to the cup. But this purported blessing contains a hidden liability that nobody talks about. So a word of caution to women making the big switch: if you want to keep track of your period, note it on the calendar. Note: if the cup does not alleviate your cramps, don’t fret. You may find relief through improved diet and exercise, as well as positive thinking.

Quick facts

What is it: A menstrual cup is a feminine hygiene product usually made of medical-grade silicone. It is shaped like a bell and is flexible. It is worn inside the vagina during menstruation for about half a day or overnight to catch menstrual fluid (blood).

Cost: Ranges from Rs.750 (domestic) to Rs.1800 (imported).

Manufacturers: SheCup, SilkyCup, DivaCup, MoonCup etc. http://www.silkycup.com/

How to use: Insert the cup in the vagina where it will catch menstrual flow. After several hours or at the end of the day, empty the fluid, rinse and reinsert. The cup can be used overnight too.

Capacity: The cup holds 30 ml. A woman loses an average of 30-50 ml in each monthly period. The cup needs to be emptied every four to eight hours, depending on flow. On light days, it can be emptied after 12-16 hours.

Cleaning: Rinse with clean water after each use and wash with soap and hot water at the end of the cycle. Sterilise with boiling water occasionally if desired.

Benefits: Clean, comfortable, convenient and eco-friendly. For more information, visit menstrupedia.com or askamma.wordpress.com Email: askammanow@gmail.com

http://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/a-lifechanging-cup/article6989772.ece