Fight period poverty! Help in breaking the shame and stigma associated with menstruation!

HELP US FIGHT FOR THE CAUSE OF PERIOD POVERTY!

 
MENSTRUAL HYGIENE FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED WOMEN

Menstruation is a natural regular process of the female body and enables women to be in good health as our body gets rid of the monthly build up of impurities. It not only ensures the good health of women, but is also simultaneously preparing the body for pregnancy in the future. However, society has practiced taboo towards menstruation and this proves to be difficult for the women who have to go through this regular process. The taboo not only imposes on women some unnecessary limitations such as avoiding cooking, strictly staying indoors, having meals separately among many other taboos but also forces them into a space where they have no other choice but to follow these rules due to fear of being looked down upon by the society. The existence of such taboo was due to the early belief that menstruation was toxic and has disease-causing effects for others.

One of the most devastating effects of period poverty is school dropouts. 71% of girls in India have no knowledge about the process of menstruation and how to handle it before they have their first period. It has been estimated that 1 out of 5 girls below the poverty line usually drop out of school after their initiation of the menstrual cycle. This is due to period poverty, a situation in which they lack access to menstrual products, sanitary facilities and adequate education regarding menstruation and its effects within the female body.
Due to the presence of taboos and social stigma attached to the concept of menstruation. 40% of students in India stop attending school fearing isolation, embarrassment, and inaccessibility of menstrual and sanitary products.
Hamari Pahchan NGO had launched the *Sukhad Campaign* to help break this stigma and help women adopt healthy menstrual hygiene habits as well as providing them with employment opportunities. Products such as sanitary pads, soaps, and paper envelopes are given out through the distribution drives that we organize while also encouraging people to stop using old clothes, rags, hay, sand, ash and makeshift pads made with used paper which may cause yeast infection and other harmful effects in the long run such as UTI’s.
We also spread awareness about how to take care of and manage periods and the importance of the proper disposal of sanitary pads after their use. Through this campaign we intend to normalize period conversations, not only among adolescent females, but also among their families as well.
During the Covid-19 era, menstrual hygiene discussion had become a topic that was forced to take a back seat amidst the ongoing worldwide crisis. It was a constant struggle for the women to acquire even one meal of the day due to which many women went back to their old menstrual habits and customs of using ash or hay wrapped in cloth. According to a study, there are currently more than 11 crore adolescent girls who are vulnerable to poor menstrual hygiene. The pandemic has only escalated period poverty for the underprivileged women.
The constant efforts of the government as well as a few individuals alone are not enough as it is a widely known problem and therefore requires the contribution from all of us.
I am Srishti, a final year student working with Hamari Pahchan. I have been for this cause relentlessly with the help of this organization. This year, we have distributed more than 25,000+ sanitary kits to the underprivileged women in slums, at GB Road, under the flyovers and on red lights  and will continue to do so in order to expand our reach.
We conduct regular distribution drives wherein we strive to provide 50,000 Sukhad kits to underprivileged women. Each kit contains 24 packets of pads, 6 soaps and 50-60 disposal envelopes. At just 450 rupees, you can guarantee 3 months of menstrual hygiene and comfort to an underprivileged woman.

Sukhad Kit for 1 woman for 3 months = Rs. 450/-
Sukhad Kit for 5 women for 3 months = Rs. 2,250/-
Sukhad Kit for 1 woman = Rs.1800/- for a year.
Sukhad Kit for 5 women = Rs.9000/- for a year.

We have been conducting distribution drives from the inception of our NGO and we aim to conduct these every week in different areas.

Your contribution for 1 woman would be essential to bring change in the society. We wish to help at least 50,000 menstruators this year by providing them with access to healthy and safe periods.

A small contribution from you will make a big change in their lives.

Donation to Hamari Pahchan entitles you to Tax Exemption under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act. Fill out the form to avail the same, click here.

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