WORLD MENSTRUAL HYGIENE DAY OBSERVED IN SIKKIM BY SWACHH BHARAT MISSION – GRAMEEN
World Menstrual Hygiene Day 2024 was observed in all the senior secondary and secondary schools of Sikkim on May 28, 2024 coinciding with the Maasika Mahostav from 21st – 28th May 2024 by SBM Grameen. May 28th, 2024 is observed as World Menstrual Health Day which provides an opportunity to raise awareness about this crucial issue amongst all students. There are still issues of stigma associated around menstruation that call for ‘Breaking the Silence around periods’, and on the other hand, menstrual waste being generated is also a major cause for concern across the State.
The Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen), Rural Development Department in collaboration with Education Department has been organising sensitisation programmes around menstruation on breaking the silence, on maintaining hygiene, as well as for switching to sustainable menstrual options such as cloth pads, menstrual cups, safe disposal practices for sanitary pads, etc.
Various schools observed the day with talks on menstruation with focus on switching to reusable options, poster contests among students on myths related to menstruation and breaking the taboos and to destigmatise periods, discussion and awareness on proper menstrual hygiene, collection and disposal mechanism of sanitary pads in schools, etc.
IEC Posters prepared by SBM (G) Rural Development Department on the issue that talked about hygiene practices, safe disposal methods, etc. were used to spread awareness and the posters were put up for display in 209 Senior Secondary and Secondary schools. These events were facilitated by the Swachhgrahis posted at Gram Panchayats.
Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) also collaborated with Sikkim Chronicle and Zero Waste Himalaya for organising a live discussion on the occasion of World Menstrual Hygiene day. ‘Lets talk Periods’. The discussion highlighted the importance of breaking the silence on periods to facilitate better hygiene practices and safe environment for menstruators. The talk also highlighted the harmful impacts on human health from disposable napkins and that disposal of these pads that were made of 90% plastics posed a big challenge for waste managers, and therefore switching to reusable options for menstrual products was the best way forward.
