Plan_India’s Post

23 million girls drop out of schools each year in India when they hit periods. Look at how we at Samarpann, are changing this picture in rural India: Our Impact : • Reaching 15,000 girls in remote villages • Providing reusable sanitary pads lasting 2 years, encouraging them to switch to healthier options throughout their lives • Providing an Info booklet in Hindi to help them understand what menstruation is all about in simple terms • Conducting community sessions in schools to encourage open discussions about menstruation • Alleviating myths and taboos surrounding menstrual health Our Approach : • Educate: Menstruation is normal, not a disease • Empower: Encourage open discussions and address doubts • Transform: Turn girls into change agents for their communities Together, we are breaking the silence and stigma around menstruation, empowering young girls to lead healthier and more confident lives. A big thank you to our #CSR partners who are supporting this initiative. Let's continue to spread awareness and make a difference! If you want to collaborate with us for your company's CSR initiative, reach out to us to walk this journey of change. #MenstrualHygiene #Empowerment #Samrapann #SocialImpact #BreakingBarriers

UNICEF reports that in India - Many girls are unaware of what menstruation is until they experience it themselves, with 71% of girls unaware until menarche. - Menstruation is a taboo topic in Indian society, leading to restrictions and exclusions of menstruating girls and women. - UNICEF is working to educate girls and women about menstrual health management, and to provide affordable and accessible sanitary products. - UNICEF has launched the MAHIMA project in Jharkhand to help girls break the silence surrounding menstruation and to provide them with knowledge about menstrual hygiene. - UNICEF has also launched the GARIMA project in Uttar Pradesh to strengthen menstrual hygiene management among rural adolescent girls. Why it is not taught in schools? Why is there a lack of knowledge? How chauvinist society we are that we don't create some real good quality toilets for women. Wash program is an eyewash. This illiteracy leads to many health and social issues. After 75 years we are still neglecting MHM as a priority for adolescent girls

In April 2022, we installed two pad production machines and trained 20 women to operate the machinery at NISHTHA in West Bengal, supported by the Trotula Fund and The Pad Project. The women now produce 3000 pads per month under their brand name, NIRMAN, which means ‘to start something new’. “Lack of access to affordable and hygienic menstrual products is a global problem. Our goal is to help each community provide adequate menstrual health to menstruators, which, according to Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters, requires 'complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in relation to the menstrual cycle.'” - The Pad Project "Girls in India often miss school because of menstrual stigma and lack of access to toilets, sanitary pads, and period education. Over 75% of women do not have access to safe period products and over 50% of girls aren’t taught about menstruation. Producing affordable, high-quality, biodegradable pads in this community improves health awareness, menstrual acceptance, and school attendance, and creates a source of income." - Liforme Yoga Gives Back's next goal is to make this project sustainable and profitable through your support. Our biggest campaign of the year is right around the corner! #GlobalGatheringforIndia

𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝟑𝟎% 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐇𝐲𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐞. (𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐞𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞) 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐈𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐝 𝐆𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐩, 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐚 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬. Imagine a world where managing your period means risking your health, education, and even social standing. Sadly, this is the reality for over 70% of women and girls in India. This means millions are forced to improvise with unsafe alternatives like rags, leaves, or even old cloths – putting their health at immense risk. Infections, UTIs, and even cervical cancer can be consequences of poor menstrual hygiene. The impact goes beyond physical well-being. Period poverty, the lack of access to menstrual products, often forces girls to miss school during their periods. This disrupts their education, impacting their future opportunities. Additionally, the social stigma surrounding menstruation leads to isolation, anxiety, and missed social interactions. This can negatively affect a woman's overall well-being and confidence. 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 We can't remain silent about this issue. It's time to break the taboos surrounding menstruation and prioritize feminine hygiene. Here's my opinion: Open conversations, education initiatives, and advocating for organizations that provide affordable and accessible hygiene products are crucial steps. Share this post to raise awareness. ♻️ Donate to NGOs promoting menstrual hygiene. Encourage open conversations to normalize menstruation. 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐲𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐲? 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬. 𝐋𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲. #femininehygiene #womenhelath #DYUhealthcare #menstrualhygiene

Had a prime-time discussion on a topic I feel so strongly about - Menstrual Hygiene for school girls in India. Addressing menstrual hygiene isn't just a health issue; it's about empowerment and rights. Discussed Sulabh International Social Service Organisation's latest report with the research lead Nirja Bhatnagar and Titli Foundation's Alankrita Pandey. Some startling facts and points to note: 🩸 Missed School Days: Inadequate facilities lead to menstruating girls missing school days. Approximately 23% drop out due to a lack of menstrual products, washrooms, and disposal facilities. 🚺 Societal Perceptions: Deep-rooted stigmas around menstruation hinder access to proper facilities. Nearly 71% of girls are unaware until their first period, contributing to knowledge gaps. 📚 Education & Stigma: Comprehensive menstrual health education in schools is pivotal. It's a barrier-breaker combating stigma and ignorance. 💡 Community Collaboration: NGOs, local authorities, and communities must unite for sustainable menstrual hygiene solutions. This includes advocating for proper facilities and education. 🏫 Government Initiatives: The recent Supreme Court directive to ensure free sanitary pads, separate washrooms, and clean water in schools is a critical step towards addressing period poverty. Let's work together to bridge the gap, break taboos, and empower our girls. Every girl deserves dignity, health, and education! #MenstrualHygiene #EmpowerGirls #EducationMatters 🌸✨ SHIVANI PANGTU Pushpraj Dalal Sutirtha Sahariah, Ph.D. Abha Kumar Kumar Dilip Vinita Varma

A UNICEF report states that 71% of adolescent girls in India remain unaware of menstruation until they attain menarche ¹. The report highlights that: - *Lack of awareness*: Many girls in India lack knowledge about menstrual health and hygiene due to societal taboos and limited access to education. - *Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM)*: MHM is a crucial aspect of menstrual health, but many females in India face challenges in practicing safe MHM due to factors like stigma, limited access to sanitary napkins, and inadequate support from family and community. - *Initiatives and Progress*: Despite challenges, India has made progress in addressing menstrual health and hygiene, including initiatives like the National Health Mission's menstrual hygiene scheme and state-specific schemes like Asmita Yojana and She Pad. - *Challenges Persist*: Despite initiatives, challenges remain, including limited access to education and awareness, societal taboos, and inadequate access to resources and facilities.

Exciting Partnership with #ToguMogu In #Bangladesh, where the well-being of mothers and children is paramount, we at Dettol are thrilled to announce our new partnership with ToguMogu, the largest parental app in the country. This collaboration aims to provide essential health and hygiene guidance to mothers and parents, ensuring a healthier lifestyle for families across Bangladesh. According to #UNFPA Bangladesh, Bangladesh has made significant strides in maternal and child health: the under-five mortality rate has dropped from 239 per 1000 in 1970 to 65 per 1000 in 2007, and the maternal mortality ratio has been dramatically reduced by 40%. However, challenges remain. Half of all maternal deaths are due to preventable conditions such as hemorrhage, and only 41% of the need for maternal health care professionals is met. Tragically, every hour, 14 newborns die, many at home. At #Dettol, we believe that health is a right, not a privilege. To us, 1 is too many when it comes to death. This partnership underscores our long-term commitment to society, particularly to underprivileged mothers. By working together with ToguMogu, we are taking a significant step forward in promoting better health and hygiene practices, which are crucial for the well-being of the next generation. More developments to follow on this front Reckitt Bangladesh #partnership #dettolBangladesh Aritra Banerjee Vishal Gupta Bishwajit Kumar Das Noomaya Jayed Sabrin Maruf Tinni Md. Amin Ul Bashir Alvi Md. Rakib Uddin Salahuddin Ahmed Tarek

India has over 355 million menstruating women and girls. Yet only 18% of them have access to sanitary hygiene. The current state of India’s menstrual policies looks like this: ➡️ Majority of women in India still use cloth to manage menstruation. This includes around 80% of non-schooled women and 35% of women with 12 or more years of schooling. ➡️ Period products are not a priority for many households. A recent study showed only 40 percent of households spent money on period products before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which there was a 16-percent decline. ➡️ Majority of existing work focuses on wealth-based disparities (poorest to richest ratio) in the uptake of sanitary napkins. A significant policy gap exists around caste-based inequalities, particularly among marginalised individuals who menstruate. ➡️ Many girls end up missing school during menstruation due to the lack of gender-segregated washrooms and period products in schools. ➡️ A substantial portion of the population cannot afford to buy disposable period products, directly impacting India’s GDP. ➡️ India will not achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—especially SDG-3 (good health and well-being), SDG-4 (quality education), SDG-5 (gender equality), and SDG-6 (clean water and sanitation)—unless it ensures menstrual health and hygiene. To tackle this problem, the Supreme Court advocated for a "uniform national policy" to ensure access to menstrual hygiene products and sanitation facilities for girls in schools. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare formulated a draft menstrual hygiene policy in 2023. This draft policy outlines various objectives, including 1️⃣ Addressing Stigma and Misinformation 2️⃣ Ensuring Access to Menstrual Products and Sanitation 3️⃣ Promoting Menstrual Health Education While the final policy and its specific details are yet to be announced, the draft version highlights its focus on creating a comprehensive approach to menstrual health and hygiene in India. Yet many believe the policy lacks scope, implementation, and sustainability. What are your views on this policy? Let us know in the comments below. #womenempowerment #menstrualhealth #health #women #genderequality

In Odisha, India, particularly among marginalised dalit communities, period stigma remains a significant issue as menstruation is often seen as impure influenced by cultural beliefs, lack of education and awareness, and inadequate facilities. 1. Many girls lack proper knowledge about menstruation before menarche. In Odisha, 46.9% were unaware of menstruation before their first period, and 67.2% felt scared during their first experience. 2. Nationwide, less than half of the girls are informed about menstruation before menarche, perpetuating myths and stigma. 3. Period poverty is widespread, with many girls unable to afford sanitary products. In tribal Odisha, one in two girls lacks access to sanitary napkins or tampons. 4. Stigma and poor facilities lead to school dropouts and absenteeism. In Odisha, 10 in 50 girls report feeling embarrassed or guilty about their periods, affecting their school attendance. To keep on the above points, on the eve of #MenstrualHygieneDay, NARA is going to initiate a Community Campaign under titled 'Project MAHIKA' aims to dispel taboos and promote menstrual hygiene by improving menstrual health management, better awareness and education, access to products, and cultural change among 50,000 underprivileged adolescent girls and women in rural and tribal Odisha. Let's come together and join us to make it a success for a #periodfriendlyodisha! #togetherforaperiodfriendlyworld #MAHIKA4MH #empowerherflow WASH United | UNICEF India | Global Menstrual Collective

Menstrual hygiene in rural India faces significant challenges, which have a profound impact on the health, education, and well-being of women and girls. A substantial proportion of women in rural India lack access to affordable and hygienic #MenstrualProducts. Many rely on homemade alternatives like rags, ash, or leaves, which can be unsafe and uncomfortable. There is a significant gap in #MenstrualHygieneEducation. A study by the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) indicated that about 71% of young women in India are not aware of menstruation until they experience their first period. This lack of awareness is more pronounced in rural areas. Menstruation is a leading cause of absenteeism among schoolgirls in rural India. Studies show that 20% of girls drop out of school completely after reaching puberty. This is often due to inadequate menstrual hygiene management facilities at schools, including lack of private spaces, water, and disposal mechanisms for sanitary products. Poor menstrual hygiene practices can lead to serious health problems, including reproductive and urinary tract infections. In rural areas, these risks are compounded by limited access to healthcare services and poor infrastructure. Menstruation is often surrounded by #culturalTaboos and stigma in rural India. Women and girls are frequently subjected to restrictions, such as being prohibited from participating in normal activities, which reinforces gender inequality and affects their self-esteem and #MentalHealth. Join us for #PledgeYourPeriod campaign - to normalize the conversation around menstrual health, mobilize resources for awareness and access to hygienic products, and advocate for an enabling environment where girls and women can manage their periods safely, hygienically and with dignity. A healthier future for all begins with stronger voices for menstrual health today. #PledgeYourPeriod #menstruationmatters #menstrualhealth #women #menstrualhygiene #endperiodpoverty Desai Foundation