Bhargavi river, which served as Apithi’s village primary water source, ran close to a main road. This meant women had no privacy for bathing or changing clothes, forcing them to compromise their dignity and comfort on a daily basis.
During Goonj’s Not Just a Piece of Cloth (NJPC) session, where the initial hesitation gradually transformed into open dialogue. The session revealed how deeply the stigma surrounding menstruation had affected the community’s ability to address basic infrastructure needs. Without proper bathroom facilities, women were forced to navigate their menstrual health needs in full public view – a situation that impacted their dignity, health, and overall well-being.
The solution emerged through collaborative wisdom: constructing bathroom-like structures near the river. What makes this initiative remarkable is not just the simplicity of the solution, but the speed and ownership with which the women embraced it. Within just two days, the community mobilized to construct two bathroom facilities, demonstrating how local agencies can rapidly transform when barriers to dialogue are removed.
“Earlier, when we went to take a bath in the river, we felt awkward,” Suchitra continued, her voice now carrying a note of pride. “But now, we have created a safe space for ourselves.” This transformation extends beyond physical infrastructure – it represents a fundamental shift in how the community approaches women’s health and dignity.
Our invitation to you is, start from where you are.. From a small change of starting a Goonj kee Gullak or Team 5000, joining a long and deep change process, or things in between- organising a collection drive, a volunteering journey, an internship, or simply walking with us signing for a Goonj monthly newsletter subscription.. More on www.goonj.org or write to [email protected].
Many options, but the choice is always one; Taking Action..
