Better menstrual hygiene at a Government school in Visakhapatnam

Sanitation, an important and essential aspect, of our daily lives has largely been overlooked in India until recent times. With Swachh Bharat and awareness generation various issues which were earlier not thought of or overlooked upon have come to light. In case of schools, it is the need for a proper, functional girls’ toilet and the lack of protection against menstruation. 

As per a survey done by AC Nielsen in 2010, lack of adequate menstrual protection leads to girls missing out on average about 5 days a month of school. Around 23% of girls drop out altogether after they start menstruating. About 80% women in India cannot afford sanitary napkins. Menstruation, something natural and physiological for women, is largely seen as a taboo in Indian society and not talked about openly. The campaign is a small effort in generating awareness on proper menstrual hygiene among the underprivileged classes of the society. 

The napkins will be manufactured by Sampoorna Rehabilitation Centre for Physically-Challenged, an NGO founded by Rotary Club Vizag Central in 2015. The NGO employs 5-6 physically challenged women and the revenue generated is shared among them for their livelihood. The required 700 sanitary napkin packets will be manufactured and then donated to school girls. The napkins are bio-degradable and environment-friendly. We will also organize a session, highlighting importance of menstrual hygiene. 

The campaign will help the families of these women and also help in generating awareness about menstrual hygiene in the school.