Sampark Sathi Foundation

-Ria Nisar Periods. A phenomenon unique to girls is a monthly occurrence for them. The dictionary definition  of menstruation is ‘’the process in a woman of discharging blood and other material from the lining of the uterus at intervals of about one lunar month from puberty until the menopause, except during pregnancy.’ ’ Common taboos will make you think that the blood expelled during menstruation is impure, dirty or bad blood. Thus, invoking the word 'periods' in a crowded place might lead to one getting shameful and reproachful looks as there is a negative connotation surrounding the word.  But, in reality, it’s just like any other bodily fluid. Blood that is born without violence, blood linked to the creation of life. The stigmatization of periods can be traced ages back. The origin of this myth dates back to is often linked to Indra's slaying of Vritras. For, it has been declared in the Veda that guilt, of killing a brahmana-murder (Vritras), appears every month as me...

 -Ria Nisar According to WHO (World Health Organization ), by 2050, two-thirds of the world’s population over 60 years of age will live in low and middle-income countries. The elderly Indian population is one of the fastest-growing in the world. At 110 million, India has the second-largest global population of ageing citizens. Yet, India lacks basic infrastructure and expertise to support the health & welfare of our elderly. Ageing and Ageism: Ageing is a natural, gradual and irreversible process that begins in early adulthood and continues throughout life. Ageing is caused by the accumulation of a range of molecular and cellular damage throughout time. This results in a gradual loss of physical and mental capacity, as well as an increased risk of disease and, eventually, death. Changes in dynamic biological, physiological, environmental, psychological, behavioral, and social processes are all linked to ageing. Greying hair, for example, is a benign age-related alteration. Oth...

 -Ria Nisar In 2010, the topic of the promise of greater representation of Indian women in the political landscape was restarted. A bill proposed to amend the Constitution of India to reserve 1/3rd of all seats in the Lower house of Parliament of India, the Lok Sabha, and in all state legislative assemblies for women. The bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha, however, after four years it lapsed since it was still pending in the Lok Sabha. That raised a bewildering question, is 33% reservation enough for a gender that represents more than 40% of the population of India? Gross Underrepresentation of Women in Power India ranks 20th from the bottom in terms of representation of women in Parliament. At present, there are 79 female legislators in the Lok Sabha (i.e. a 14% representation) and 26 in the Rajya Sabha (i.e. 11% representation). The numbers narrate a sorry tale. India is the biggest democracy in the world. Or, so they say and everyone hears. A reality check will help us under...

-Ria Nisar A disability is described as a ‘physical or mental condition that limits a person's movements, senses, or activities’. However, experts have come to a mutually agreed decision that a singular, universally accepted definition for disability does not exist. Even though the symptoms can be medically clustered, the needs of two people who have been classified having the same illness, can differ.   Disability can be a birth defect. An impairment which may be present in a child when he/she is in the womb. They can be caused after birth also owing to some natural or manmade calamities like wars, chemical reactions, chronic illnesses, poverty and malnutrition. Social ostracism of India’s differently abled sisters Approximately 2.1% of India’s population is disabled. Among the total disabled in the country, 12.6 million are males and 9.3 million are females. The harsh reality remains that they need to cope up with three kinds of disability in this country- their illness, social s...