Poll Res. 41 (1) : 187-201 (2022) Copyright © EM International ISSN 0257–8050 DOI No.: http://doi.org/10.53550/PR.2022.v41i01.028 MENSTRUAL WASTE DISPOSAL: A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN TRIBAL AND NON-TRIBAL COMMUNITIES OF SELECTED DISTRICTS OF WEST BENGAL LOPAMUDRA GANGULY* AND LAKSHMINARAYAN SATPATI Department of Geography, University of Calcutta. 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata 700 019, West Bengal, India (Received 3 June, 2021; Accepted 23 July, 2021) ABSTRACT Background: In almost every culture around the world, there is a severe stigma associated with individuals seeing or being aware of this used material. Despite the country’s massive waste generation, India lacks separate standards for sanitary waste disposal. As a result, the removal of menstrual waste is a severe issue in the country. In the designated districts, descriptive and cross- sectional research of adolescent girls were done. 788 women who had menstrual flow for at least three consecutive menstrual cycles were chosen as samples using the sampling technique. Data is being collected on 435 non-tribal women and 353 tribal women in the population. Following that, the data is arranged in a comparative analytical fashion. The data were analyzed using the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0, including descriptive and inferential statistics. Result: Menstrual waste management is a severe issue in several areas, according to the study’s findings. Non- working and working women, as well as non-tribal and tribal women, are divided into two categories. Women in the unorganized sector confront more significant challenges due to the unfavourable atmosphere for changing menstrual products and properly disposing them. The proper disposal of used absorbents necessitates user-centered design thinking that considers socio- cultural norms surrounding menstruation, product availability, quality, and use, as well as existing sanitary infrastructure. KEY WORDS : Cloth, Sanitary pad, Women, Menstruation, Dispose, Non-Tribal, Tribal INTRODUCTION Menstruation is a natural body function, but it is veiled in taboos, superstitions, and biases that make it challenging to keep track of their monthly periods securely, cleanly and hygienically. Health issues, especially reproductive health, RTIs (respiratory tract infections), stress and anxiety, contribute to gender-based violence to workplace absenteeism and create discomfort in the home. However, a few publications discuss or describe proper or safe menstrual waste disposal and management. One underlying reason could be a lack of clarity and consensus on how menstrual waste is classified (for example, as solid waste, hazardous waste, or bio- medical waste). So it makes it difficult to provide clear guidance on how to properly dispose of used products, leading to ineffective and dangerous disposal practices. When a woman or a girl changes her napkins or other menstrual material during her period, the subject of what to do with the used pad or material arises immediately. If it is disposable, there must be a way to get rid of it. If it is to be reused, it must be washed, dried, and kept to be used again. There is a severe stigma connected with other people seeing or being aware of this used material in practically all cultures worldwide. Despite the country’s vast waste production, India lacks separate rules governing the disposal of sanitary waste. Menstrual waste is designated as “sanitary trash” under the Solid Waste Management Rules of 2016 (Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016), which apply to solid waste. The rules for menstrual waste disposal further clarify the