All around the world, single-use or disposable plastic is wreaking havoc. Managing it efficiently without leaving any waste behind is a new-era challenge and disposable menstrual products are one of them. Single-use or disposable menstrual products are made of plastic. It is not possible to recycle these products as ordinary dry waste. It only requires a controlled incineration facility and such a facility is not easily available in rural and remote places. Thus, disposable menstrual waste is often burned, thrown in the valleys and rivers or dumped in open places. This is leading to contamination in many natural, pristine places. Overall, disposable menstrual waste is a new-era problem.
Therefore, Green Works Trust (GWT) developed a new program ‘Kaapad Maza Sakha’ which focuses on sustainable menstruation practices by promoting reusable menstrual products. However, simply talking about reusable products isn’t enough to get a sense of it. Hence, we donated the sample packs of reusable cloth pads which could last up to 3 years. GWT has donated cloth pads to 115 rural menstruators and 235 tribal menstruators till now and we are continuously working to spread more awareness on untouched locations.
This program not only focuses on sustainable period products but also emphasises period literacy. There are a lot of myths and taboos revolving around menstruation. Hence GWT makes special efforts for scientific learning of the menstrual cycle, busting myths about it, learning the function of hormonal pills and their effects, normalising period talks and developing a gender-inclusive approach.
We are thankful to SICK India Pvt. Ltd. & Ankit and Abha for supporting this program. We express our sincere gratitude to the Anshu Foundation for giving us a platform to conduct this program. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Pee Safe for subsidising the cloth pads under their initiative Haq Se Period and for training GWT speakers.
Feel free to write to us if you wish to conduct a ‘sustainable menstruation program’ in your area. Cheers to period literacy!
