Reusable sanitary pads distributed to school children
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR
Imphal, November 24 2019:
Dr Rangitabali Waikhom, Deputy Commissioner, Imphal East distributed re-usable Sanitary Pads to Girl Students of Govt/Govt aided schools of Wangkhei High School, Imphal East as part of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative yesterday.
The reusable sanitary pads were provided by Shashikiran Charitable Trust, based in Delhi, under their Corporate Social Responsibility in partnership with the MoonCatcher Project, US.
The innovative initiative of distributing the personal hygiene kits, the first such intervention by the District Administration, are aimed at school girls studying in Class VII-XII in Govt/Govt aided schools in Imphal East, said the DC.
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Each kit distributed yesterday was comprised of three reusable sanitary pads and along with the distribution awareness programs on menstrual hygiene, how to use the pads and taboos behind menstruation were held.
In India, out of the 383 million women/girls menstruating, 70 percent of the girls have no knowledge of menstruation before their menarche (the first occurrence of menstruation) .
A normal body function leaves them experiencing feelings of confusion, shame, and despair during their first period.
Eighty percent cannot afford sanitary products.
A quarter of girls drop out of school when they hit puberty.
"Menstrual hygiene is important to ensure that these valuable women don't lose out on their education", Dr Rangitabali said.
A mapping of the Imphal East District reveals that there are roughly 5000 girls who have hit puberty studying in Govt/Govt aided schools.
"We are targeting 1000 girls today.
We are planning to go to Andro on November 25 and other parts of the District likewise and cover all the Govt/Govt Aided schools", she said.
The DC also exhorted all sections of the population in the district to support this genuine cause taken up by the district administration for the betterment, growth, and progress of the girl child.
"We are starting an Andolan, a Movement, and everyone should support this cause that "women bleed with pride", she said.
The initiative carried out by the District Administration in convergence with Health, ICDS Cell, ZEO Zone-II is working on women empowerment by focusing on girls who have hit puberty.