How is Rajasthan dealing with taboo around menstruation?
With Akshay Kumar's recent film 'PadMan' bringing the issue of menstruation mainstream, Rajasthan is trying to go the extra mile by creating awareness on the taboo subject of menstrual health with specially designed campaigns. Campaigns like 'Chuppi Todo-Sayani Bano' (roughly translated as 'break the silence and grow up') in Alwar and Nagaur districts have begun to gain traction. Here's all about them.
Campaign launched in 2016 by IAS officer Rajan Vishal
The campaign is seeking to create awareness and increase access to requisite sanitary infrastructure. It was launched by the Collector of Nagaur district, Rajan Vishal and is being replicated in Alwar, where he is the Collector at present. Over two lakh school girls in the districts have been motivated to break the eerie silence around the issue in a largely conservative society.
School girls of Alwar were sensitized on menstrual hygiene
The girls have been tasked to propagate the idea among other girls and elder women in their contact. The campaign addresses the needs of adolescent girls on menstrual hygiene. Around 1 lakh girls in 1,977 government schools in Alwar were sensitized on the issue. Kits and booklets containing practical tips for better menstrual health management are also being issued to girls, said Rajan.
To ensure campaign's sustainability, monthly workshops will be held
To ensure the campaign's sustainability, monthly orientation workshops will be organized on every third Tuesday in all the government schools. Girls who are active and well-oriented on this sensitive issue would be given the title of Swachta Doot (hygiene ambassadors) so that they continue to spread the message. The girls who have 100 percent attendance will be given the title.
