For most of us, menstruation might be inconvenient, but it is not life-altering. However, in much of India, the situation is vastly different. According to the National Family Health Survey, out of the 355 million menstruating Indian women, only 36% of women were reported to use sanitary napkins. Others have to use old cloth, which is often reused, ashes, newspapers, dried leaves, and husk sand during periods. These inadequate menstrual hygiene absorbents pose serious health risks like reproductive and urinogenital infections (fungal, yeast, viral infections) and even cervical cancer. The lack of means for hygienic management of menstruation can cause discomfort and stress and adds to the shame and sometimes depression that women and girls experience because of menstruation-related taboos and stigma.

What can be done? 

I am Anamya, an undergraduate student at Delhi University. To bring about a slight change in this neglected area, I have created a fundraiser supporting the Sukhad fundraising campaign of the NGO Hamari Pahchan. They are raising funds to distribute sanitary kits to the underprivileged women of the slums in Delhi who are unable to manage their menstrual cycle in a healthy, dignified way. The NGO distributed more than 30,000 Sukhad Kits in 2021, and aims to distribute at least 50,000 Sukhad Kits to women. 
With the fundraiser, I aim to provide Sukhad kits to 30 women/menstruators.
A kit for a menstruator costs 350 INR and includes

• 6 packets of pads (240 INR)
• 2 soaps (25 INR per piece)
• 50-60 disposable envelopes (cost of labour by underprivileged women; the kit too is made of paper).

Access to menstrual hygiene is a basic right. Please help make lives easier for those unable to achieve this basic right.

Thank you.