Mensutral Hygiene Awareness

‘Kanpur Masik Dharm Maha Jagrukta’ is a unique and first ever initiative on menstrual hygiene awareness. Month long awareness drives and inter-school competitions were organised by FICCI FLO Kanpur and ALIMCO, that culminated in a cultural programme at The Sportz Hub on Sunday, the 28th of May, 2023, the International Menstrual Hygiene Day. The event was chaired by Dr Priyanka Bhargava and co-chaired by Rashmi Dhawan, Aparna Agnihotri, Cheistha Agarwal and Neha Garg.

Sneha Gupta, the Chairperson of FLO Kanpur, partnered with ALIMCO, one of the largest Government owned corporations, as an awareness partner, in their CSR initiative to distribute 1.5 Lakh Sanitary pads and install 60 incinerators in 46 Schools over the last one month.

FICCI FLO, Kanpur Chapter conducted a month-long awareness campaign called ‘Kanpur Masik Dharm Maha Jagrukta’. The Kanpur Menstrual Cultural Festival featured various cultural programmes, awareness talks and interactive sessions on menstrual hygiene management.

The campaign was split into 3 phases:

Phase1, from May 1st to the 20th saw a successful awareness spread through interactive games, quizzes, nukkad nataks and comic book presentations, in 46 schools by 30 FLO menstrual champions.

Phase 2, between May 21st and 25th, Kanpur’s first menstrual cultural programme unfolded, with inter school competitions ranging from poem writing, painting, skit, debates, and video making, with more than 12 schools in the fray.

Phase 3 saw the culmination, with the grand finale on May 28th, commemorating the International Menstrual Hygiene Day. It included a panel discussion along with a cultural programme, attended by dignitaries from various walks of life: administration, doctors from both government and private schools, school principals, FLO members and students.

Chairperson Sneha Gupta was delighted to honour the dignitaries, including administrative officers, doctors, representatives of 46 schools from Kanpur Nagar city, along with the fellow FLO members.

Vishak G Iyer, District Magistrate, Kanpur Nagar, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.

This campaign was the need of the hour as there is an alarming need for educating young girls about menstrual hygiene, Unfortunately, many young girls and women face gruelling challenges due to the lack of information, limited access to sanitary products, and deep-rooted societal taboos surrounding menstruation.

FICCI FLO Kanpur and ALIMCO helped to bring about a revolutionary change through their comprehensive awareness campaign and this experience will continue to help these girls and women in the future.

FLO members and ALIMCO office-bearers had also joined the noble initiative in great numbers. It was an impactful awareness campaign. It was an event where substantial number of FLO members also participated.