Pune: Menstrual Hygiene Day Celebrated With Sanitary Pad Distribution And Red Dot Awareness Drive In Warje
Pune: Menstrual Hygiene Day Celebrated With Sanitary Pad Distribution And Red Dot Awareness Drive In Warje
Pune, May 29, 2025: To mark Menstrual Hygiene Day, the Sewavrat Foundation and Jagruti Foundation organized a community outreach initiative in the MHADA locality of Warje, focusing on menstrual hygiene awareness and the distribution of sanitary napkins. The event was held under this year’s global theme, #PeriodFriendlyWorld, which emphasizes equal access to period education and hygiene resources.
As part of the initiative, 75 women and adolescent girls from the MHADA community were given sanitary pads, along with practical guidance on maintaining hygiene during menstruation. The event also featured an educational session on safe disposal practices, highlighting the Red Dot Campaign initiated by Sathya Natarajan, advisor to the Humjoli Foundation and leader of the Indian Swachhata League’s Puneri Nayak team.
The Red Dot Campaign, a project by SWaCH, teaches users to mark used sanitary waste with a visible red dot before disposal, enabling waste-pickers to avoid direct contact with hazardous waste. The campaign addresses the health risks faced by over 1,600 Swachh Karmacharis, who handle around 20 metric tonnes of sanitary waste daily.
Renuka Madam from Sewavrat Foundation remarked, “Despite progress, menstruation is still surrounded by shame and misinformation. This initiative aims to challenge taboos and ensure women receive the information and resources they need.”
The event was supported by Swanandi Rath, founder of Jagruti Foundation, who has served over 20,000 beneficiaries since 2018 through menstrual health programs and was recognized with the Menstrual Hygiene Management Champion Award by NGO Gramalaya.
Participants were also introduced to eco-friendly menstrual products and health management practices. The women in attendance expressed gratitude and enthusiasm for the awareness initiative.
Menstrual Hygiene Day is globally observed every year on May 28, symbolizing the average 28-day menstrual cycle and 5 days of menstruation, reinforcing the importance of menstrual health and dignity for all.
