Page 60 - HUDCO-SHELTER-OCT21

POLICY REVIEW

Likewise, the Human Rights is derived from the Directive parts of India do not have
Committee affirms that Principles of State Policy access to basic sanitation
governments “should ensure and it is also an established facilities, which puts their
that traditional, historical, fundamental right under health, safety and privacy at
religious or cultural attitudes Article 21 of the Constitution, risk. As part of its life cycle,
are not used to justify which guaranteed the right to half of the global population
violations of women’s right life and dignity. The positive menstruates. Insufficient
to equality before the law obligation of the State to menstrual hygiene presents
and equal enjoyment of all provide healthcare facilities a barrier to the dignity and
Covenant rights.” is established by various health of women and hence
decisions of the Supreme amounts to discrimination
Articles 12 and 14 of Court. based on gender.
the Convention on the
Elimination of all forms However, despite all these SANITATION
of Discrimination Against recognitions, little importance RELATED NEEDS AND
Women (CEDAW) mandate has been given to sanitation VULNERABILITIES OF
states to take effective steps from a woman’s perspective. WOMEN
to eradicate discrimination India’s SDG Scorecard
against women in the field of has been below average The lack of sanitation facilities
healthcare and to ensure that as compared to other Asia presents many problems for
men and women have equal Pacific countries. Even after women, as women have a
access to healthcare facilities. 73 years of Independence, greater need for privacy than
many women in different men for sociocultural reasons.
The Right to Health in India

Fig 2: India Score – SDGs: Below Regional Average

Source: https://data.em2030.org/countries/india/

58 HUDCO-HSMI Publication