Mithi : Thari women In Tharparkar and Umerkot, have unfolded an inspiring movement, where traditional norms and societal taboos have often overshadowed their voices.
Married and unmarried women, have met to openly discuss Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), challenging deep-seated cultural barriers that have long suppressed these essential conversations.
Seeta Kolhi, a class ninth student at Govt Girls Secondary School Wehro Sharif, first girl in her family as well as colony has stood at the forefront of this change. “When I got my first period, I had no idea what was happening. I couldn’t talk to my mother due to cultural restrictions. My teacher was the only one who guided me and introduced me to sanitary pads,” Seeta shared during an awareness session. Inspired by her teacher, Seeta now educates other girls about menstrual hygiene, helping them replace unhygienic practices with safer ones.
The session, titled “Emergence of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Umerkot,” was part of a community development initiative led by Global Undergraduate Exchange Program fellows Sanjay Mathrani and Sandeep Chawla.
The event was aimed to provide a safe platform for women to address SRHR topics, including menstruation, contraception, and maternal health issues often left far from discussion. They also discussed its causes, barriers and impacts on their lives.
Dr. Jaiwanti Khatri, a medical officer at the District Headquarter Hospital in Umerkot, stressed the urgent need for education on SRHR. “Early marriages, lack of awareness about contraception, and myths around reproductive health contribute to high maternal mortality rates and emotional distress in this region,” she explained. She counted scores of health complications including fistula, which have always turned chronic when kept under the cirtail. Dr. Khatri debunked misconceptions and encouraged women to seek medical help without hesitation. “I am just twenty steps away at DHQ Umerkot. Never feel shy to reach out,” she assured the participants.
The initiative, which hosted sessions in local villages such as Pannah Shah and Ramji Kolhi, in Vehro Sharif attracted over 140 participants, including young girls and married women.
Nirmala, a mother of three, shared her experience: “I’ve suffered due to a lack of knowledge about my own body. This session has given me the confidence to prioritize my health and educate my daughters.”
They opened the mouth and narrated scores of issues faced by them due to their silence.
Organizers of event Sanjay Mathrani and Sandeep Chawla highlighted the challenges faced by women in Umerkot. “Socio-cultural barriers limit access to family planning, safe pregnancy options, and basic healthcare. Many women accept these hardships as their fate, but awareness can change this narrative,” said Mathrani.
Experts like Dr. Aliza Latif and Dr. Bhuneswari Rathi emphasized that SRHR is not merely a health issue but a matter of fundamental human rights. They called for collective efforts to eliminate stigma and provide accessible healthcare facilities in Umerkot.
The sessions also aimed to empower women to become advocates in their own communities. “Each woman here has the power to inspire change. By speaking up, you are reclaiming your rights,” said Dr. Rathi.
They said this initiative has opened doors to dialogue and awareness in a region where discussing SRHR has long been taboo. By standing tall against societal restrictions, the women of Umerkot are paving the way for a healthier, more informed future for themselves and generations to come.
