Girls need more education on menstrual awareness and hygiene : Says Report

Maharashtra, 21 August, 2023: In a groundbreaking effort to address the deep-rooted challenges faced by young rural women in India, Ujaas, a social initiative by Aditya Birla Education Trust that works towards driving awareness for menstrual health and hygiene in rural markets, in collaboration with CRY (Child Rights and You), conducted transformative workshops on menstrual health and hygiene across 3162 girls and boys between the age of 10 to 16 years across Maharashtra.

The 29 collaborative workshops were conducted in 6 districts of rural Maharashtra under the campaign ‘”Let’s Talk About It! Period,” aimed at building menstrual health awareness among children. The workshops conducted for grades 5-10 led to a 46% increase in young girls gaining comprehensive knowledge about menstrual health and hygiene, while a staggering 56% broke free from harmful taboos that have constrained them for generations. 

Commenting on the same, Advaitesha Birla, Founder Ujaas said , “The findings from these workshops in association with  CRY have underscored the urgent need to address menstrual health and hygiene across India especially in rural spaces. We are immensely proud of our collaboration’s impact on these young girls and boys, helping them foster a sense of pride. It is crucial that we continue this work to ensure every girl in India has access to accurate information and a supportive environment to embrace their menstrual health with confidence and dignity.”

The Ujaas and CRY are committed to continuing their efforts to create lasting change in the lives of rural girls. By investing in the future of these young women, Ujaas and CRY aim to foster a society that embraces menstrual health as a natural and vital aspect of women’s lives.

Ujaas and CRY provide impact-driven interventions in menstrual health; Leads to 46% Rise in Menstrual Hygiene Awareness Among Rural Girls

Key Finding:

• 72% of girls in school between the age of 10- 13 years are still not aware or educated about menstrual awareness and hygiene
• Approx 40% of girls from the age group 10 – 16 years believe that Menstruation is not a natural occurrence 
• Nearly 75% believe that females menstruating toxic waste while menstruating, while the answer is Blood
• Approx 66% of boys and girls believed that menstruation makes females impure

Impact through the Workshop:

• A significant 46% surge in awareness regarding menstrual health and hygiene amongst 10-13 year students
• 25% now understood and embraced menstruation as a natural bodily process
• An impressive 62% of girls were educated about and dispelled misconceptions surrounding menstruation
• A remarkable 56% have bravely shed the stigma and taboo associated with menstruation

About Ujaas

Ujaas, an initiative by Aditya Birla Education Trust aims to create a positive and sustainable impact in the menstrual health landscape in India by reducing period poverty and by empowering adolescent girls and women to adopt effective menstrual health and hygiene management practices. At Ujaas, we understand problems related to the affordability of sanitary products and sustainability. With our distribution channels and awareness campaigns, we want to propel a legacy of CHANGE and form a cycle of sustainability that is passed down to generations. Menstrual health is one of the most glaring but under-prioritized issues, which unfortunately gets compartmentalized as a woman’s problem instead of getting noticed as a public health challenge & a barrier to progressive nation-building.