Dr Keerthana Rajasekaran, a consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at SRM Prime Hospital in Chennai, emphasises the importance of monitoring signs of early puberty. Identifying such developments promptly is crucial for ensuring appropriate care for the child and addressing any underlying issues.

Medical professionals stress the role that early menstruation can play in a child’s overall health, impacting both physical growth and emotional well-being.

Reasons Behind Early Puberty

Research indicates a decline in the average age of puberty over recent decades, with numerous contributing factors. While no single cause has been identified, an increase in childhood obesity is considered a significant influence, as excess body fat increases estrogen levels—hormones that trigger sexual development in girls.

Other contributing factors may include sedentary lifestyles, increased time spent on screens, poor sleep patterns, reliance on processed foods, and exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals present in various household products. Family history and genetic predispositions also play crucial roles, but not every child exhibiting early signs of development has a medical concern.

Understanding these factors can help parents navigate their daughters’ health and development, while noting that each child’s growth experience is unique.

Early Signs of Puberty Parents Should Note

Physical changes associated with early puberty often manifest before the age of eight. Indicators for parents to observe include the development of breasts prior to this age, a rapid increase in height, body odour similar to adolescents, acne, and the emergence of pubic or underarm hair. Mood changes, along with menstruation starting early, are additional signs for consideration.

Healthcare professionals advise that while early maturity can be natural, such signs warrant evaluation to ascertain whether they fall within a healthy developmental spectrum.

Research suggests that girls who encounter early menstruation are at risk for various long-term health concerns, including obesity, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and certain hormone-related cancers, among other conditions. Early menarche may also influence final adult height due to accelerated bone maturation.

Addressing Emotional Challenges

The emotional ramifications of early puberty cannot be overlooked. Girls who experience these physical changes earlier than their peers may face feelings of embarrassment, confusion, or anxiety relating to their developing bodies. It is vital for parents to foster open discussions in a supportive environment.

Parents are encouraged to engage their daughters with age-appropriate language about puberty, addressing questions with honesty and reassurance regarding their experiences. Educational institutions also play a significant role in equipping girls with understanding and familiarity ahead of their first periods.

Although not all cases of early puberty can be prevented, implementing healthy lifestyle habits can contribute to sustaining normal growth while supporting overall well-being. Recommendations include promoting balanced nutrition, encouraging physical activity, ensuring adequate sleep, and reducing intake of processed foods.

When to Seek Medical Advice

Parents should consult healthcare professionals if their daughter exhibits signs of early puberty, particularly if breast development begins before the age of eight, or if menstruation starts unusually early. A paediatrician or specialist may conduct various assessments, including physical examinations and hormone tests, to gauge whether the progression of puberty is normal.

In certain instances, medical intervention may involve treatments to delay puberty, ensuring the child’s physical and emotional health remains intact. Early menstruation is a complex issue demanding careful monitoring and timely medical intervention, with the overarching goal of fostering healthy growth and development.

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During the proceedings, Justice Nagarathna expressed her concerns over the discriminatory practices, suggesting that such exclusion conflicts with constitutional principles advocating equality. Her remarks came in response to Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who objected to characterising the exclusion as akin to treating women as untouchables, a perspective that he found deeply objectionable.

The discussion highlights a significant clash between constitutional rights and religious practices. Justice Nagarathna reiterated that the provisions of Article 17 should apply uniformly and not be subject to time-bound interpretations, particularly in relation to women attending places of worship.

Solicitor General’s Defence of Temple Practices

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta opened his arguments by establishing that the restrictions at Sabarimala pertain not to menstruation but to a specific age demographic. He clarified that he was not addressing the issue of menstruation directly. Additionally, Mehta stated that the temples dedicated to Lord Ayyappa across the nation generally admit women, except for the Sabarimala temple, which he identified as a unique case.

Mehta further argued that the judicial examination of what constitutes essential religious practices should take into account fundamental principles established within the Constitution. He referred to earlier debates held by the Constituent Assembly concerning Articles 25 and 26, asserting that religious reforms fall under the jurisdiction of the legislature rather than the judiciary.

The Solicitor General maintained that the approach taken by the Supreme Court in the past regarding essential religious practices should be reconsidered. He indicated that the Court’s involvement in determining these practices could lead to inappropriate judicial overreach into religious matters.

Constitutional Questions and Future Implications

The Supreme Court’s nine-judge bench has embarked on examining crucial constitutional issues linked to religious freedom and legislative authority. Today’s hearings stemmed from a five-judge bench’s referral in 2019, which arose during ongoing review petitions against the 2018 ruling that had allowed women of all ages to enter Sabarimala temple, thus ending a long-standing prohibition.

This latest session is expected to clarify the boundaries of judicial authority concerning religious practices, specifically focusing on the constitutionality of tests created by the judiciary and the legislature’s role in religious reform. The outcome may set important precedents for similar cases across India, particularly those involving issues of religious freedom and legislative power.

Cumulatively, this examination of the Sabarimala practices could reshape the legal landscape of religious rights in the country. The proceedings signal a renewed commitment to addressing the complexities associated with the intersection of culture, law, and women’s rights, as well as the handling of reform within religious contexts.

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Even though we are progressing as a nation and winning accolades on the global stage, rural India continues to battle challenges like poor menstrual hygiene, taboos, superstitions and lack of awareness.

It is a shocking fact that menstruation acts as a major barrier to girls’ education and women’s participation in the workforce in rural area even today.

On April 10, 2023, the Supreme Court of India called for a ‘Uniform National Policy’ to be developed by the Central Government, in consultation with States and Union Territories, to ensure menstrual hygiene in schools. The policy aims to provide sanitary pads, vending and disposal mechanisms, and exclusive washrooms for girl students in schools.

The Government of India (GoI) addresses menstrual hygiene through several inter-ministerial policies and schemes, most notably the Menstrual Hygiene Scheme (MHS) under the National Health Mission and the provision of subsidized sanitary pads under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).

The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) has incorporated Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) into its guidelines, focusing on developing national guidelines, promoting behaviour change, and supporting villages with waste management solutions like incinerators and deep burial pits.

A Menstrual Hygiene Policy for School Going Girls was approved in November 2024 to enhance MHM standards in government schools by focusing on awareness, product access, and proper disposal facilities, including separate toilets.

The CSR Journal takes a look at some of the latest Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives which aim to raise awareness around menstrual health and hygiene in India thus empowering adolescent girls and women.

Top CSR projects working towards menstrual health and hygiene in India 

Campaign to Empower Rural Women With Sustainable Menstrual Hygiene

Centre For Transforming India (CFTI), a nonprofit organisation dedicated to rural transformation, has announced launch of “The Cup Of Care” campaign to help provide low-income, middle-aged women in Raigad with affordable menstrual hygiene solutions.

The Campaign aims to provide a dignified, environmentally friendly menstrual hygiene option with menstrual cups. At least 42% of women still rely on unhygienic methods, as menstrual hygiene challenges are severe in Maharashtra. It is even worse in states like Uttar Pradesh (69.4%), Bihar (67.5%), and Madhya Pradesh (64.8%). The high price of sanitary napkins creates financial barriers for women; due to the “pink tax,” GST-free menstrual cups produce a long-term, more affordable solution.

Medically tested silicone menstrual cups give 12 hours of leak-proof protection to help prevent rashes, infections, and discomfort for women working in agriculture or the informal sector without access to clean toilets during the day.

The Campaign aims to create conversations, provide females with an eco-friendly lifestyle choice, and generate less waste. While empowering them to choose their own solutions for the long term by promoting the use of menstrual cups.

NTPC Bongaigaon donates sanitary napkin incinerators to Bodoland and Kokrajhar Universities

As part of its commitment to community health and women empowerment, NTPC Bongaigaon under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, in collaboration with the District Administration, Kokrajhar, and the Bardwi Shikla Ladies Club, NTPC Bongaigaon, donated seven sanitary napkin incinerators, five to Bodoland University and two to Kokrajhar University.

The provision of sanitary napkin incinerators will help in ensuring safe, hygienic, and eco-friendly disposal of menstrual waste on university campuses. They stressed that such interventions are vital in addressing menstrual hygiene challenges, breaking taboos, and enabling students to pursue education with confidence and dignity.

CSR of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) in government schools of rural India

BPCL installed sanitary napkin vending and incinerator machines in government schools and communities, renovated toilets and constructed community toilet units to improve hygiene standards. Recent installations include six incinerator machines in government-aided schools in Chennai in July 2024 and multiple installations in Rajgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Salempur, Uttar Pradesh, in FY 2023-24. These machines provide access to sanitary napkins and ensure their safe disposal, contributing to girls’ well-being and the environment.

CSR of IRCLASS Systems and Solutions

IRCLASS Systems and Solutions Pvt Ltd, a company promoted by Indian Register of Shipping which looks into Testing, Inspection & Certification requirement of Industry to achieve Quality, Safety and Reliability across value chain has launched a CSR project titled ‘Hygiene and Menstruation for Health and Dignity’. The project is aimed at improving menstrual health and hygiene practices among rural women and adolescent and girls in Maharashtra.

Located in Kelwad, Ahilyanagar, the project aims to break taboos around menstruation faster dignity and support the health and well being of women in underserved communities. The initiative supports a social innovation startup funded through ISSPL’s CSR Funds and is powered by made in India machinery. Under the brand name ‘Lady Lotus’, the project has established a sustainable unit for the production of low-cost high-quality sanitary napkins tailored to meet the needs of rural women in Maharashtra.

In addition to improving access to affordable hygiene product, the initiative also promotes employment generation and community awareness through women-led operations and sensitisation workshops.

CSR Project ‘Keep a Girl in School’ in Mumbai

Bold & Bae Fashion, a Mumbai-based startup in the women’s apparel sector, has launched an initiative to keep girls in school by addressing menstrual health and hygiene concerns. To ensure that no girl misses out on education due to lack of access to sanitary pads and proper menstrual hygiene, the brand ha

s partnered with various schools in Mumbai, including Gandhi Memorial English High School & Junior College (Kamla Nagar), BSIAS School (Dharavi), and Mother Teresa School (Dharavi). This initiative marks the beginning of the company’s long-term commitment to this cause.

An alarming 60% of girls in India remain absent during their periods or drop out of school permanently due to various challenges. This statistic underscores the critical condition of underprivileged girls.

Smita Thorat, Co-Founder of Bold & Bae Fashion, stated, “Access to sanitary pads and menstrual hygiene products is every girl’s basic right. We are dedicated to supporting underprivileged school girls by providing menstrual hygiene products. Our mission is to ensure that no girl misses out on her education just because she can’t afford something as basic as sanitary pads. Through this programme, we aim to empower young girls to stay in school, pursue their dreams, and build a brighter future for themselves and their communities.”

Under this mission, Bold & Bae donates a pack of sanitary pads every time a purchase is made on their website. The company has partnered with several NGOs to support this initiative, including collaborations with Nanhi Pari and the Mother Teresa Memorial Social Welfare Trust to raise awareness about menstrual hygiene.

CSR of Union Bank of India

Union Bank of India is running a CSR initiative to promote menstrual hygiene and maintain a hygienic waste management system. The bank is installing sanitary pad vending machines and sanitary pad disposal machines in government or government-aided schools under the jurisdiction of its 134 regional offices. This initiative aims to raise awareness among girls about sanitation and hygiene while reducing absenteeism among female students.

As part of its commitment to improving infrastructure in schools, Union Bank of India has also announced that it will construct more than 134 girls’ toilets across the country, with contributions from all regions. This initiative seeks to provide young girls with clean and safe sanitation facilities, ensuring their comfort and dignity.

CSR of TVS Motor Company

Srinivasan Services Trust (SST), the social arm of TVS Motor Company and Sundaram-Clayton Limited, has been working for women empowerment in the rural belts of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh for the past 27 years, through formation of Women Self-help groups, and helping them sustain through interventions in diverse sectors such as training, credit linkage, livelihood programmes and nudging them towards development of their community. SST has established a hygiene programme that focuses on menstrual health, benefiting over 1000 girl children annually, as per a recent announcement made by the trust.

CSR of Flipkart – Project Udaan

The Flipkart Foundation and Give Foundation in August 2023 announced partnered with Pinkishe Foundation, a non-profit organisation working towards improving the lives of women and girls in India, towards spreading awareness about menstrual health and hygiene. The initiative – ‘Project Udaan’ – aims to create period-positivity while addressing the challenges girls and women from marginalized communities face, especially in rural areas. By providing essential information and eco-friendly period products, the project endeavors to foster better reproductive health and behavioural practices. The project will be executed across multiple locations in four states, including Gandhinagar and Mehsana in Gujarat, Gurugram in Haryana, Bengaluru in Karnataka and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.

‘This collaboration aims to empower and encourage adolescent girls and dismantle the taboo around periods. Besides promoting appropriate menstrual health practices, the project also envisions nurturing a sense of dignity and confidence among young girls and women. The programme seeks to cater to girls aged 10 to 18 years, benefiting 1,600 girls directly and an additional 3,200 girls and women indirectly, covering 20-25 schools identified with the help of local teams,’ as per a statement from the company.

CSR of Amrutanjan Health Care Limited

On the occasion of International Women’s Day in March this year, Amrutanjan Health Care Limited launched a campaign #PowerToBeYou to address the critical issue of period poverty in India and to spread the message that every woman has the right to manage her periods with dignity and confidence.

Menstrual hygiene brand Amrutanjan Comfy, under its Project Disha, this year, has reached out to 10 states, 900 towns, 400 schools, 4.8 Lakh students and 100 Anganwadi centers across India to create awareness around menstrual hygiene and dismantle the barriers that hinder access to essential menstrual hygiene products, as per an announcement. #PowerToBeYou aims to transform communities by empowering women with access to affordable and high-quality menstrual hygiene products.

CSR of PNB Housing Finance

PNB Housing Finance has undertaken a mission to create awareness and train rural women about the importance of menstrual hygiene. A program on menstrual hygiene management (MHM) was inaugurated on 19 January 2023 under which the Company, in association with the Desai Foundation, has set up a sanitary napkin production unit at Sitapur Road in Lucknow.

PNB Housing Finance’s CSR arm, the Pehel Foundation, has taken this initiative to eliminate a key barrier to girls’ education and women’s participation in the workforce. The programme aims to increase awareness about menstrual hygiene among rural women and provide them with easy access to quality and affordable sanitary napkins. A three-pronged approach, i.e., creating awareness, establishing a local production unit, and building a robust distribution network of female sales representatives, will help foster a sustainable ecosystem and boost their financial empowerment.

While this programme aims to help provide livelihood opportunities to rural women, the company is confident that the direct distribution model will increase access to menstrual hygiene, which can prove to be a catalyst for change in the entire community.

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On October 26, when Haryana Governor Asim Kumar Ghosh was on a three-day visit to the university, four female sanitation workers arrived late for duty. When the supervisor asked for the reason, they stated “menstruation,” to which the supervisor refused to believe them and instead asked them to prove it.

According to one of the victims, she was asked by the supervisor to remove her clothes, while another woman was instructed to show her sanitary napkin. Some even alleged that the supervisor took photographs as evidence.

Campus Erupts in Protest

After the incident came to light, outrage broke out on the campus. The women victims, along with students, demanded action against the supervisors for their inhuman behavior. University Registrar Dr. Krishnakant Gupta and Vice-Chancellor Prof. Rajveer Singh took charge of the situation, immediately suspended the supervisors, and directed them to remain in Rohtak until the investigation concludes. Later, police detained the supervisors for questioning.

Women’s Commission Reacts

The case has been taken up by the Haryana Women’s Commission. Condemning the act, Chairperson Renu Bhatia called it “deeply shameful and unacceptable,” stating, “There can be nothing more outrageous than asking a woman to prove her menstrual cycle.”

Bhatia has sought a detailed report from the Superintendent of Police, Rohtak, and the commission has reached out to the victims to ensure their safety. University authorities have assured that the probe is underway and that strict action will be taken against those found guilty.

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The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India also has a scheme running for the promotion of menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls in the age group of 10-19 year in rural areas. The major objectives of the scheme are increasing awareness among adolescent girls on Menstrual Hygiene, to provide better access to and use of high quality sanitary napkins to adolescent girls in rural areas and ensuring safe disposal of Sanitary Napkins in an environmentally friendly manner.

Now, a Durga Puja Committee in North Kolkata has chosen ‘menstrual hygiene’ as their theme for this year with an aim to raise awareness around menstrual hygiene and challenge taboos and myths surrounding menstruation. “Ebar Abagunthan Kholo” (Time to remove the veil) is the theme for Kolkata’s Pathuriaghata Pancher Palli Sarbojanin Durgotsav in its 84^th year.

The Khuti Puja (a ceremony performed to mark commencement of Durga Puja preparations) for Pathuriaghata Pancher Palli Sarbojanin Durgotsav was conducted on Menstrual Hygiene Day, 28^th May, when the theme was disclosed.

Breaking taboos

The theme has been conceptualised by artist Manash Roy. Talking to The CSR Journal about his inspiration behind this theme, Manash said, “I hail from a middle class Bengali family. Ever since adolescence, when I learnt about menstruation, I have been wondering why women are made to live in isolation during these days. In my growing up years, even my cousin sisters refused to play with us while menstruating and they would never reveal the actual reason to us. I often wondered why such a hush-hush around something which is a natural, biological process. Now, when I go to a medical store to buy sanitary pads for my wife, they always wrap it in a brown paper bag or a black plastic carry bag. Why is this done? Why this hush-hush? With this theme, I aim to fight the taboo and myths surrounding menstruation, so that we move from the darkness of ignorance to the light of awareness.”

Creating impact

Durga Puja was declared as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in 2021. Using Durga Pujo as a platform to raise awareness on a subject like menstrual hygiene, will have a greater impact as the message can be spread to a huge group of people coming to visit the pandal, feels Ellora Saha, Councillor, Ward No. 24, Kolkata Municipal Corporation and Working President, Pathuriaghata Pancher Palli Sarbojanin Durgotsav.

Talking to The CSR Journal, Ellora informed, “The theme has been conceptualised by our theme maker Manash Roy who came to the Puja Committee with this proposal and we gladly accepted it. There will be artworks and installations in the shape of sanitary pads and menstrual cups on the pandal walls. We are also planning to have a stall in the pandal premises to raise awareness on menstrual hygiene, including printed handbills and distribute sanitary pads to underprivileged girls and women. Durga puja is a huge social platform which has even earned recognition from the UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. If such a platform is used to raise awareness on a topic like menstrual hygiene, it will surely have a greater impact.”

Menstruation, a reason to isolate women

Talking about existing taboo and myths surrounding menstruation, she further said, “As a Councillor, I keep conducting awareness camps on menstrual hygiene especially among the underprivileged people residing in urban slums. Ignorance still exists on this topic, girls, especially from underprivileged background have no other choice but to use dirty clothes instead of sanitary pads. Periods is still a taboo among a section of our population where women are not allowed to serve or cook food and enter the kitchen or temple during menstruation, they are made to sleep alone on a separate bed. In villages, a lot of girls are asked to skip school during the days of menstruation and when a girl starts menstruating, she is also made to drop out from school. Taboos and mental blocks related to menstruation exist even among educated urban citizens. And this is not acceptable at a time when we are sending Chandrayaan-3 to the moon.”

Awareness necessary irrespective of gender

“I think whether a woman should be allowed to cook or worship during menstruation, should be her personal choice. Nobody should be made to live in confinement or isolation even for one day because she is menstruating. Menstruation is nothing but a biological process which happens to all women. Periods is perceived as ‘dirty’ or ‘unclean’ by a lot of people where a menstruating woman’s touch is not desirable. Even a male child is kept in the dark about this and he does not know what his mother or sister is experiencing. Whereas the reality is that the human civilisation is progressing because of this, it is only a woman who menstruates can give birth to a child. So, I feel menstrual hygiene awareness should be raised irrespective of gender, only then can it have a positive impact on the society,” the Councillor further said.

Ahana Bhattacharya can be reached at ahana@thecsrjournal.in

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SuperBottoms’ heartfelt initiative isn’t just about menstrual hygiene; it’s about reclaiming dignity, erasing taboos, and empowering young girls to embrace their womanhood with pride. The event commenced with an enlightening session led by Dr. Rupali Bhatia, SuperBottoms’ Consultant Gynecologist. In the session, she discussed critical aspects of menstrual hygiene and safety, shattering taboos and encouraging open dialogue. As the session concluded, each attendee was handed SuperBottoms’ MaxAbsorb™ Period Underwear, a sustainable, comfortable, and affordable alternative to chemical-laden pads and unhygienic cloth scraps.

Pallavi Utagi, the CEO and Founder of SuperBottoms, remarked, “This initiative is a reflection of our values and commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of those we touch. Safe and sustainable period care is the basic right of every woman. The impact of our #RedFest initiative goes beyond the event itself; it’s a foundation for a more dignified and healthier future.”

Echoing the sentiment, Kanika Narula, Head CSR and Partnerships at Pehchaan The Street School (Trust), stated, “Our partnership with SuperBottoms has paved a new path to empowerment, showing how collective efforts can shape a brighter tomorrow. This initiative marks a powerful step towards fostering lasting change in the lives of young women.”

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Brand Paree has also come up with a small gesture, (the letter P made with the right hand) symbolic of a monumental change to equip every girl with better menstrual health and hygiene. It also indicates that change lies in our hands and how we can give empower girls with right education of better menstrual health. Menstruation is a natural process, yet millions of girls face numerous challenges and limitations due to societal taboos, lack of access to proper menstrual hygiene products, and very little knowledge about the menstrual health. Pareevartan stands as a beacon of change, determined to break the barriers, and enable girls and women to embrace their periods with dignity and confidence.

Speaking on the initiative PareeVartan, Mr. Sahil Dharia, Founder & CEO, Soothe Healthcare commented “At Paree Sanitary pads, we believe that every girl and woman deserves access to safe and hygienic menstrual products, and the right knowledge to manage her periods with confidence. Through PareeVartan, we are committed to creating awareness, providing education, and empowering young girls to make informed choices about their menstrual health.”

We are immensely proud to launch the Pareevartan program and take a significant step towards ensuring healthy and hygienic periods for all girls. Through this initiative, we aim to empower young girls, equip them with knowledge, and create an environment where menstrual health is prioritized and celebrated.”

He added, “As a brand we have always been committed to making a positive impact on the lives of women, and this initiative is a testament to this dedication We invite everyone to join us on this journey and together bring about a positive change that will uplift the lives of women and girls across the country.”

Under this initiative, the brand has organized various menstrual hygiene management sessions in schools and communities and distributed sanitary pads to girls who do not have access to them or do not know how to maintain basic menstrual hygiene. The brand has covered various districts in India, including Patna, Aligarh, Darbhanga, Rohtak, Mayur Vihar, Deoria, Delhi, Faridabad, Hapur, Pune, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Punjab, Varanasi, Guwahati, Agia and Dudhnoi conducting over 50 menstrual hygiene and awareness sessions and distributed more than 60,000 sanitary pads, impacting more than 12000 lives.

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Even though we are progressing as a nation and winning accolades on the global stage, rural India continues to battle challenges like poor menstrual hygiene, taboos, superstitions and lack of awareness.

It is a shocking fact that menstruation acts as a major barrier to girls’ education and women’s participation in the workforce in rural area even today.

On April 10, the Supreme Court of India called for a ‘uniform national policy’ to be developed by the Central Government, in consultation with States and Union Territories, to ensure menstrual hygiene in schools. The policy aims to provide sanitary pads, vending and disposal mechanisms, and exclusive washrooms for girl students in schools.

On this occasion, The CSR Journal takes a look at some of the latest Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives which aim to spread awareness around menstrual health and hygiene in India thus empowering adolescent girls and women.

Ujaas’ efforts to ceate awareness around menstrual hygiene

Aditya Birla Education Trust’s social initiative, Ujaas, is working towards creating awareness about menstrual health and hygiene in India. Ujaas recently organized a wall painting activity in the presence of Advaitesha Birla, Founder Ujaas and school students, including girls and boys from Narsinh Vidyalaya, Tathwade, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune. The painting was done on the school wall which has over 1000 students across all standards. The activity aims to emphasize the importance of menstrual health and hygiene through the medium of art.

Ujaas has further pledged to undertake the wall painting initiative in 20 more schools across Maharashtra reaching out to approximately 15000 students. In India, menstruation is still considered a taboo subject. Ujaas is leveraging the power of art to initiate conversations and break down these social barriers by encouraging students to express themselves through art. Ujaas aims to facilitate more open and comfortable discussions around menstrual health and hygiene in India.

C3 distributes menstrual hygiene kit to young girls in Haryana

Centre for Catalyzing Change (C3) and Open Text (formerly called Microfocus) is working to disseminate menstrual hygiene information and resources to young girls in Pataudi District of Haryana. To help young girls navigate puberty, which is often a time of significant physical and emotional upheaval, C3 has been working in five schools of Pataudi district, Haryana. The initiative is supported by Open Text, and has been equipping over 1000 adolescent girls with life skills, digital and financial literacy, and information on menstrual health and hygiene, they recently announced.

Under this intervention, C3 distrubuted ‘Navya Kits’ to the girls, which are a collection of products and information that would help these young girls understand and manage their periods and dispel myths and taboos surrounding menstruation. The kits contain six reusable pads (that would last up to 2 years), a hot water bottle for menstrual pain management, a diary with interactive information on menstrual hygiene and taboos, and a detergent bottle that will help the girls wash and re-use their pads. To further supplement wider usage and safe disposal of sanitary napkins, C3 has also begun setting up incinerators in all of the five schools in which the initiative has been running.

Apexon and Karma Foundation’s menstrual health initiative

Apexon, a digital-first technology services company recently announced partnership with Karma Foundation to launch a campaign to drive menstrual wellness and hygiene awareness across India.  The ‘Happy Periods’ initiative is being driven through Apexon’s philanthropy platform, Ignite, and will see the two organizations join forces to manufacture and distribute sanitary products to economically challenged women across India.

At an event held in Makarba Police Headquarter, Ahmedabad recently, over 5000 sanitary pads were distributed to more than 100 Women Police. The Happy Periods sanitary pads distribution drive is an end-to-end initiative which includes the manufacturing of sanitary pads and distribution of free sanitary packets to women in disadvantaged areas, combined with menstrual health educational material and awareness sessions on the ground.

The initiative aims to benefit women and girls belonging to underserved communities. A total of over 62,500 packets, each containing eight sanitary pads, will be distributed by Karma and Ignite volunteers across several States in India including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Goa, Rajasthan, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Pondicherry, and Chandigarh, they recently announced.

Ignite and Karma Foundation aim to provide dignity, vocational skills and financial opportunities to more than 60 inmates at Sabarmati Jail, Ahmedabad through various training activities. ‘Sabarmati Saheli’ sanitary pads are being manufactured by the female inmates of Sabarmati Mahila Jail, allowing the inmates to learn important skills for their future careers while positively contributing to society. The Sabarmati Saheli pads will also be given to schools, NGOs and all Apexers, who will further distribute it to the local community.

PNB Housing Finance’s menstrual hygiene programme for rural women

PNB Housing Finance has undertaken a mission to create awareness and train rural women about the importance of menstrual hygiene. A program on menstrual hygiene management (MHM) was inaugurated on 19 January 2023 under which the Company, in association with the Desai Foundation, has set up a sanitary napkin production unit at Sitapur Road in Lucknow.

PNB Housing Finance’s CSR arm, the Pehel Foundation, has taken this initiative to eliminate a key barrier to girls’ education and women’s participation in the workforce. The programme aims to increase awareness about menstrual hygiene among rural women and provide them with easy access to quality and affordable sanitary napkins. A three-pronged approach, i.e., creating awareness, establishing a local production unit, and building a robust distribution network of female sales representatives, will help foster a sustainable ecosystem and boost their financial empowerment.

While this programme aims to help provide livelihood opportunities to rural women, the company is confident that the direct distribution model will increase access to menstrual hygiene, which can prove to be a catalyst for change in the entire community. It also plans to extend a similar program in other locations in the coming future.

Vantage Circle’s menstrual hygiene initiative in the slum areas of Assam

On the occasion of International Women’s Day recently, Vantage Circle, a global employee engagement company announced its initiative to support women from slum areas by providing them with free sanitary napkins and assorted ration items.

On the occasion, employees of Vantage Circle forged harmony and unity amongst all by taking the initiative of addressing some of the core issues of menstrual hygiene faced by the women in the slum areas. This step was implemented in collaboration with an NGO ‘Snehalaya Kendra.’ The employees imparted how women living under such circumstances can manage their menstrual health with dignity by providing them with essential nourishment to fuel their growth and development.

Baazi Games promotes menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls in Delhi

On the occasion of Children’s Day last year, Baazi Games announced association with the initiative ‘Project the Power of Periods’ to promote menstrual health and hygiene amongst adolescent girls in India. The campaign aims to touch the lives of 200 million women in India who are unaware about safe, sustainable, and menstrual health practices.

The campaign addresses two major concerns of ‘lack of awareness’ and ‘lack of sanitary material’ surrounding sustainable menstrual hygiene in India. The mission is to spread awareness about simple and sustainable practices to maintain menstrual hygiene.

 As a part of this initiative, reusable/eco-friendly sanitary pads, school bags and stationary items were donated to over 200 girls from the 6th grade of Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya School in Saket (Delhi) to empower the girls on taking charge of their lives and menstrual health into their own hands. On the sidelines of the program, an educating and engaging session was organised to combat the myth and taboo around periods, how to tackle them along with imparting the girls with the knowledge of making the right decisions about menstrual health and hygiene.

The initiative aims to educate young girls on periods and sustainable menstrual practices that can easily be adopted to make this world a plastic free and environment friendly planet to live in.

Medyseva’s menstrual hygiene awareness initiative

Madhya Pradesh-based telemedicine healthcare startup Medyseva has started an initiative to spread awareness on menstrual hygiene in rural areas as part of their flagship campaign ‘Har Ghar Swasth’.

As part of this campaign, periodic healthcare awareness sessions are conducted at schools, colleges and other places mostly in rural areas of Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Assam. Along with this, menstrual health and hygiene is also discussed. They also conduct webinars and sessions in public places to create awareness around menstrual hygiene while sanitary napkins are distributed among rural women for free.

The post Top CSR projects working towards menstrual health and hygiene in India appeared first on The CSR Journal.

Despite the multiple signs of progress, the harsh truth is that only about 30% of women have access to sanitary napkins in India. This means that the majority of women in the county are still struggling for the very basic needs, and are fighting the societal taboos.

Dr. Vishesh Kasliwal, Founder & CEO, Medyseva shared, “Lack of menstrual hygiene is connected with negative effects such as infections of the reproductive and urinary tract, which may lead to future infertility and birth complications. Proper knowledge about menstrual hygiene and its application can improve adolescent girls’ reproductive health to a great extent. Many women in rural areas cannot afford the expense of sanitary napkins. We at Medyseva strongly believe in creating a year-long advocacy for creating awareness with free consultation on menstrual hygiene by team of gynecologists, distribution of free Sanitary napkins and fighting societal taboo. The initiative under our flagship campaign ‘Har GharSwasth’ was flagged off this year during Joy of Giving week across 6 Medyseva Kendras in Madhya Pradesh, Gonda (UP), Ahmednagar (Maharashtra) and Odisha in the month of October”.

The post Medyseva spreads awareness on menstrual hygiene among rural women this ‘Daan Utsav’ appeared first on The CSR Journal.

अक्षय कुमार की फिल्म “पैडमैन” आपने तो जरूर देखी होगी। फिल्म में अक्षय कुमार ने महिलाओं के लिए सुरक्षित सैनिटरी पैड मुहैया कराने के लिए कितनी जद्दोजहद की थी, अभिनेता अक्षय कुमार ने तो फिल्म में रील की भूमिका निभाई थी। लेकिन आज हम आपको रियल भूमिका निभाने वाले शख़्स से मिलाने जा रहें हैं। उत्तर प्रदेश में अपराधियों के छक्के छुड़ा देने वाले मशहूर एनकाउंटर स्पेशलिस्ट आईपीएस राजेश पांडे वो शख़्सियत है जो उत्तर प्रदेश पुलिस के तेज़तर्रार अधिकारियों में शुमार है। ये एनकाउंटर स्पेशलिस्ट है, अपने बंदूक के दम पर खूंखार अपराधियों को धूल चटा देतें हैं। लेकिन अब ये ‘पैडमैन’ के अवतार में हैं।

माहवारी (Menstruation) समस्याओं को समझते हुए राजेश पांडे ने सेनेटरी पैड मैन्यूफैक्चरिंग यूनिट की स्थापना कराई

आईपीएस राजेश पांडे ने ऐसा कारनामा कर दिखाया है जिससे महिलाओं की तकलीफें दूर हुईं हैं। राजेश पांडे की पहल से यूपी के चार जिलों की ना सिर्फ आम महिलाओं को सस्ते दर पर सैनेटरी पैड (Sanitary Pad) मिलने लगा है। बल्कि पुलिस में कार्यरत महिलाएं भी बड़े पैमाने पर लाभांवित हो रहीं हैं। महिलाओं की माहवारी समस्याओं को समझते हुए आईपीएस राजेश पांडे ने उत्तर प्रदेश के बरेली पुलिस लाइन में ही सेनेटरी पैड मैन्यूफैक्चरिंग यूनिट की स्थापना कराई है। उत्तर प्रदेश पुलिस की ओर से पैड बनाने की यह पहली मैन्युफैक्चरिंग यूनिट है। पुलिस विभाग में कार्यरत महिलाओं से लेकर आम महिलाओं को भी ये पैड मिल रहे हैं।  पैड बनाने से लेकर पैकेटिंग का सारा काम महिला पुलिसकर्मी संभाल रहीं हैं।

इंडियन ऑयल सीएसआर (CSR) की मदद से राजेश पांडे बने पैडमैन

सैनेटरी पैड बनानेवाली इस मैन्युफैक्चरिंग यूनिट से बरेली मंडल के शाहजहांपुर, बदायूं, पीलीभीत सहित चारों जिलों में छह हजार से अधिक महिला पुलिस कर्मियों, परिवार की महिलाओं और बेटियों को गुणवत्तायुक्त सैनेटिरी नैपिकन मिल रहे हैं, वो भी बेहद सस्ते दामों पर। पुलिस लाइन में लगी मशीन की कीमत करीब चार लाख रुपये है। एक पैड की लागत एक से सवा रुपये के करीब आ रही है। मशीन संचालित करने के लिए पुरुष के अलावा महिला पुलिस कर्मियों को भी प्रशिक्षित किया गया है। हम आपको बता दें कि सैनेटिरी नैपिकन (Sanitary Napkins) बनानेवाली इस मशीन को सीएसआर (CSR – Corporate Social Responsibility) फंड की मदद से लगाया गया है। इंडियन ऑयल ने कॉर्पोरेट सोशल रिस्पांसिबिलिटी के तहत ये मशीन दी है।

सोशल टैबू माना जाता है महिलाओं की माहवारी समस्या

महिलाओं के स्वास्थ्य से जुड़े माहवारी के इस विषय को सोशल टैबू के तौर पर लिया जाता रहा है। इसी कुरीतियों को तोड़ने का बीड़ा उठाया है राजेश पांडे ने। और शायद यही कारण है कि राजेश पांडे प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी के संबोधन से प्रेरित है। 15 अगस्त के स्वतंत्रता दिवस पर देश के प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी ने महिलाओं के स्वास्थ्य के लिए जरूरी सैनिटरी नैपकिन के महत्व पर चर्चा की थी। यह पहला मौका था, जब किसी प्रधानमंत्री ने लाल किले से उस विषय पर चर्चा की। जिस पर इस जमाने में भी लोग बात करने से कतराते रहे हैं। और लॉक डाउन की समस्या और पीएम के संबोधन से प्रेरित होकर राजेश पांडे अब पैडमैन बन गए हैं।

माहवारी को लेकर क्या कहती है हेल्थ रिपोर्ट

नेशनल फैमिली हेल्थ सर्वे की 2015-16 की रिपोर्ट कहती है कि देश में 62 फीसदी महिलाएं पीरियड्स के दौरान पैड के अभाव में कपड़े का इस्तेमाल करतीं हैं। स्वास्थ्य मंत्रालय के आंकड़ों के मुताबिक देश की लगभग 70 फीसदी महिलाओं की सेनेटरी उत्पादों तक पहुंच ही नहीं है। जिससे वे गंभीर बीमारियों का शिकार होतीं हैं। ऐसे में बरेली के डीआईजी राजेश पांडे ने अपनी उस मुहिम को तेज गति देनी शुरू की है। सैनेटरी पैड बनाना इतना आसान नहीं था, इसके लिए पहले तो रिसर्च किया गया।दिल्ली, नोएडा और गुजरात में पैड बनाने वाली मशीनों की कीमत और पैड कैसे बनाया जाता है इसका सर्वे किया गया। रिसर्च और फिर सुधार करने के बाद सफलता मिली। पैकेटिंग के लिए किसी भी प्रकार की प्लास्टिक प्रयोग नही किया जाता है।

डीआईजी राजेश पांडे ने The CSR Journal से ख़ास बातचीत की। इस दौरान उन्होंने बताया कि “पुलिस लाइन में स्थापित यूनिट से एक घंटे में दो सौ पैड बन रहे हैं। एक पैड बनाने में 2.15 रुपये में खर्च आता है। ऐसे में सात पैड का एक पैकेट 15 रुपये में महिलाओं को मिल रहा है। आम जन भी परिवार की महिलाओं के लिए पुलिस कैंटीन से गुणवत्तायुक्त पैड खरीद सकते हैं।

एनकाउंटर स्पेशलिस्ट और एसटीएफ के संस्थापक हैं राजेश पांडे

राजेश पांडे ऐसे पुलिस अफसर हैं, जिन्हें बहादुरी के लिए 4 बार गेलेंट्री अवार्ड मिल चुका है। यूपी में कभी आतंक का पर्याय बन  चुका माफिया श्रीप्रकाश शुक्ला सहित कई कुख्यात अपराधियों और वाराणसी बम ब्लास्ट में शामिल लश्कर-ए-तैय्यबा के मुख्य आतंकी सलार जंग सहित दर्जनों एनकाउंटर करने के लिए राजेश पांडेय जाने जाते हैं।  भारत सरकार की ओर से संयुक्त राष्ट्र शांति मिशन में एक साल के लिए कोसोवो में भी तैनात रहे। यूपी एसटीएफ और एटीएस के संस्थापक सदस्य भी रहे। तकनीक के जरिए अपराधियों के गिरेबान तक पहुंचकर उन्हें ढेर करने में उन्हें महारथ हासिल है। राजेश पांडेय को सिर्फ अपनी धाकड़ छवि ही नहीं बल्कि सामाजिक कार्यो से भी बहुत पहचान मिली हैं। फिर वो गरीब को घर दिलाना हो, एक मनोरोगी मां को उसके बच्चे से मिलाना हो या सैकड़ों बच्चों को उच्च शिक्षा दिलाना हो।  लेकिन इस बार फिर राजेश पांडे ने अपने कार्यों से एक अलग ही नजीर पेश की है।

The post ‘पैडमैन’ बने आईपीएस राजेश पांडे, CSR से बनाया सेनेटरी पैड appeared first on The CSR Journal.