On the Global Menstrual Hygiene Day, the UNICEF and partner Aaina came together to showcase films, paintings and radio jingles on menstruation with an aim to promote more conversations around periods and eliminate stigma.
The evening comprised showcasing the winning entries of Kallola’s flagship short films contest, an exhibition of the winning paintings from the inter-college painting competition, release of a music video ‘Kaacha Kandhei’ and radio jingles on the issue of menstrual hygiene and periods talk.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Odisha Dr Monika Nielsen said, “This year, film makers made films on periods as their entries for the Kallola Film Festival and several of them are thought-providing and challenging stereotypes. We hope the films will be widely disseminated and will help to change mindsets.”
City Mayor Sulochana Das appreciated Kallola as an initiative and this year’s theme of menstrual health and hygiene. She said, “Communication is key and films are a very powerful medium to reach out to people.”
MD, OSMCL Yamini Sarangi said the Government of Odisha runs one of the largest free sanitary napkin distribution programmes called “KHUSI” distributing around 18 crore napkins annually to more than 17 lakh beneficiaries.
Programmes like 'Kallola- 2021-22' are excellent initiatives advocating for awareness around menstrual hygiene and dispelling all myths and taboos associated with such a normal and natural biological process, she added.
State award winning Odia actress Anu Choudhury said “There is still a silence about periods in our society. It’s time to break the silence and talk about periods openly in family.”
Among others, veteran singer SusmitaDas, ED, Eastern Media Ltd Tanaya Pattnaik, WASH Specialist UNICEF New Delhi Dr Pratibha Singh and secretary, Aaina Sneha Mishra spoke.