Project Pavitra- an initiative of the Ranchi district administration- is aimed to create awareness amongst adolescent girls and women about menstrual health and hygiene.
The initiative basically talks about the menstrual cycle through interactive sessions targeting girls from class V to class XII. Launched in collaboration with the Art of Living Foundation, it aims to educate girls on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM).
In third phase of the initiative started in January 2021, the project will be targeting approximately 5500 teenage girls of the Ormanjhi block. During the two- day training session, young girls will be provided with answers not just related to menstruation but a lot of other issues as well. It also includes practicing Yoga and Prayanama (breathing exercises) to provide relief from any discomfort. Project Pavitra also aims to bust social taboos, myths and misconceptions related to the process.
Following Covid-19 protocols, each session is attended by as many as 75 girls who at the end of the training programme are also given a packet of sanitary napkins by Stayfree under its CSR initiative.
“Project Pavitra is an awareness programme on Menstrual Hygiene Management. The whole idea of this programme is to remove the stigma and taboo attached to menstruation in the society and encourage adolescent girls to make an informed choice with regards to the use of sanitary products. As a part of the project, we are targeting to cover more than 5000 girls in the Ormanjhi block,” said Ranchi Deputy Commissioner (DC) Chhavi Ranjan.
The first phase of the initiative was rolled out in January 2019 across all the 13 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya in the State capital. In the second phase launched in July 2019, all the government schools- about 44 in number were included.
As a part of the entire project, the trainees are also introduced to menstrual products like sanitary napkins and reusable cloth pads along with following proper disposal and hygienic measures.
“During the Covid-19 pandemic the third phase got stalled but as soon as the restrictions were lifted, the project was rolled out at the community level. MHM awareness is extremely essential and it is the administration’s aim to make all adolescent girls aware about it in the district,” said Ananya Seth, Consultant Ranchi district administration who is working on Project Pavitra.