When twelve-year-old Sapna got her first period, she thought it was because of a cold she had at the time. In another incident, a school-going girl had to use a handkerchief to prevent period blood from soiling her clothes and didn’t know whom to share it with. These stories highlight the ongoing challenges many girls and women face across India.
A study conducted by NGO Child Rights and You (CRY) in 2022 found that around 16% of the 4,000 girls surveyed did not know the correct cause of menstruation, and 61.4% felt there was a sense of embarrassment surrounding the topic. To address these issues, various organizations in Bengaluru took significant steps on World Menstrual Hygiene Day, observed annually on May 28.
Distribution Drives
Give.do, in collaboration with the Pinkishe Foundation, launched a monthly mission to combat “period poverty” by distributing free sanitary products to underprivileged women and schoolgirls. The MITU Foundation and the Indian Ploggers’ Army conducted a distribution drive in Jayanagar, providing hygiene kits containing reusable cloth pads and other essentials.
Awareness Sessions
Circular Waste Solutions (CWS) partnered with GIZ Saahas to conduct an awareness session at the Seshadripuram Educational Trust, featuring Dr. Shanthi Tummala. FLO, the women’s wing of the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), held an awareness program on cervical cancer linked to poor menstrual hygiene.
Art for Impact
Uninhibited hosted an online meet-up titled “Jash-e-Rang, Mahavari ke Sang,” using music and poetry to engage audiences and promote conversations about menstruation. This initiative aimed to align with the theme of #PeriodFriendlyWorld and #PeriodFriendlyIndia.
Meaningful Conversations
StoneSoup.in, along with Mahadevapura MLA Manjula Limbavalli, initiated a project in Kannamangala Gram Panchayat to combat menstrual taboos. They organized a feedback session on Menstrual Hygiene Day 2024 and promoted “Period Parties” to encourage open discussions about menstruation.
Many other organizations, including Sakriya Charitable Trust and World of Women (WoW), also held events to mark the day, reflecting a growing movement to address menstrual health and hygiene issues across the country.