In several parts of India, the topic of menstruation brings with it the associated baggage of stigma, and shame. According to a report by WaterAid, 70.9 percent of Indian girls were unaware of what was happening when they got their first period.
Schools shy away from teaching students about it, social circles close their doors to the topic, and families maintain radio silence. This has resulted not only in the creation of myths and misconceptions, but also in unsafe and unhygienic practices. It is precisely this taboo that Garima Abhiyan – launched in the Simdega district of Jharkhand – tackles through its Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) awareness campaign.
The campaign is spearheaded by Satwik Mishra, Simdega’s District Fellow under the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Transformation of Aspirational Districts Program (TADP). Launched in September 2018, it spanned over five months and addressed key issues related to menstrual health in a bid to sensitise both men and women across all ages. The administration collaborated with the WSSCC (Water Sanitation Supportive & Collaborative Council), a United Nations agency, which provided them with knowledge and logistical support.
A Unicef report from 2017 shows that 88 percent of menstruating women in Jharkhand and Bihar were unable to access sanitary napkins. Using old cloth, which hasn’t been properly washed or dried, can cause major health problems. However, these issues are swept under the carpet as people are unwilling to talk about them.
“We wanted to break the taboo around this issue,” explains Satwik. “We wanted to involve everyone in the community, irrespective of age and gender, so that they become more willing to help and take action.”