Geetanjali Marndi, a Class-X girl from the Kapilas Girls’ High School, Dhenkanal, made the State proud when she represented at the “Nine Movement’s Menstrual Awareness Conclave” held in Delhi on Monday.
Geetanjali joined Dr Jennifer Butler, Deputy Director Asia Pacific Regional Office, UNFPA in the panel focusing on absenteeism of girl child in schools due to menstruation.
She shared the panel with high profile dignitaries including noted film actor and social activist ShabanaAzmi, former Secretary General UN Woman, laxmi Puri and head of Royal Commonwealth Society, Shivani Wazir Pasrich. Geentanjali also had the opportunity to interact with superstar Akshay Kumar who was the chief guest of the conclave.
An inspiring change-maker at 15, the story of Geetanjali is the clarion call for society at large to start talking about menstruation.
It is indeed high time to not just talk but also celebrate these small steps towards change.
Geetanjali was nominated for the conclave by the ST and SC Development Department, Government of Odisha. She studies in the residential school run by the department and has set an example for many other girls like her by breaking the myths and misconceptions associated with menstruation and continuing her education in spite of social taboos.
Speaking at the conclave she shared that life skills education classes in her school helped her in understanding that menstruation is a normal thing for girls and how misbelief and unhealthy practices affect self esteem and dignity of girls.