The Green Pencil Foundation has launched a significant initiative, "Periods of Pride," aimed at addressing menstrual hygiene management in schools across India. The foundation conducted a comprehensive survey to identify the challenges girls face related to menstruation while attending school.
Targeting major urban centers such as Mumbai, Pune, New Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, and Hyderabad, the survey garnered over 800 responses through Google Forms and offline participation from various schools.
Key findings from the survey revealed alarming insights into the stigma surrounding menstruation. Notably, 81.3% of girls reported feeling most comfortable discussing their periods only with their mothers, highlighting the persistent taboos that permeate society.
Sandy Khanda, founder of the Green Pencil Foundation, emphasised the need for normalization of menstruation, stating, “Green Pencil Foundation is committed to destigmatizing periods through our initiative, Periods of Pride.”
Additionally, 40.9% of respondents indicated they prefer to avoid school during their periods, reflecting a troubling reality. Despite India emerging as one of the world's fastest-growing economies, dropout rates among girls remain high due to the stigma associated with menstruation.
When asked about their knowledge of menstrual products, 18.8% of girls admitted they do not know how to use pads correctly.
Furthermore, regarding the health implications of menstruation, 8.6% of participants believed that having periods is not good for their health, while 17.8% were unsure.
Co-founder Gaurav Kumar remarked, “This dark reality calls for immediate action. It is crucial to integrate menstrual education into school policies to educate teenage girls on both the practical and theoretical aspects of menstruation and good menstrual hygiene management practices.”
The survey further revealed that 17.1% of girls were not familiar with the concept of periods, indicating a significant knowledge gap. Moreover, 36.2% expressed difficulty discussing their periods with family members, illustrating the stigma embedded within families and communities.
Sandy Khanda reiterated the importance of addressing these issues, stating, “Women have been fighting for their basic human rights for decades. Proper menstrual education and access to quality menstrual products are fundamental rights for every girl and woman. We strongly advocate for 'Menstrual Hygiene Management Education' policies in schools to break the associated taboos.”
In another question, 34.4% of girls admitted they were unaware of the complete menstrual cycle.
On this International Day of the Girl Child, the Green Pencil Foundation calls on the government, NGOs, and society to unite in normalizing menstruation and fostering positive change.
The need for comprehensive menstrual education is now more pressing than ever to empower young girls and dismantle long-standing stigmas.
You may also like
India strong proponent of multilateralism, says Birla at Geneva meet
Baba bloomed with realty boom in Bandra
Is Swiggy's Revenue Stack Ready For The IPO Test?
Jurgen Klopp described as 'different person' to new England boss Thomas Tuchel
Prince Harry 'threw a fit' and 'ended friendship' with Dominic West over actor's stories
2 killed in Bihar clash after Durga idol immersion
Prince William reveals his secret 'crucial motto of being a parent' to George, Charlotte and Louis
'I break the rules to take my kids on term-time holidays - we don't have a choice'
Pay Rs 5 lakh to employer for quitting without notice: Gujarat court
Rape accused gets bail on marriage, baby's care pledge
IndiGo flight makes emergency landing in Jaipur after receving hoax bomb threat
HC relief for duo who shouted 'Jai Shri Ram' at Karnataka mosque
17 years after woman claimed to have killed hubby, HC acquits her
"EVM batteries have signatures of party representatives": CEC Rajiv Kumar discards Congress allegations
India biggest guarantee of peace in IOR: Rajnath
3-Alarm Fire Engulfs Multiple Homes In Newark, New Jersey| Videos
Perishers - 16th October 2024
I scoured Abu Dhabi for a viral dessert people are raving to try - it was totally worth it
Hydrangeas are 'guaranteed to flower bigger and better' next year by avoiding 1 common job
Robot artist Ai-Da to make history as portrait of Alan Turing goes to auction