Palghar, a well-known tribal district in Maharashtra, is home to indigenous communities like the Kokna, Warli, and Mahadev Koli tribes. In Madipada village, Jawhar taluka, Goonj has been actively working, particularly over the last two years, addressing key community needs.
During a recent Cloth for Work initiative meeting, the villagers expressed a strong desire to create kitchen gardens to improve their nutritional intake. Women took the lead, stepping forward to cultivate their own homegrown food sources.
Seizing this opportunity for deeper engagement, Goonj facilitated a ‘Break the Silence’ (Chuppi Todo Baithak) session on menstruation. The conversation revealed a common yet concerning practice—many women were using old sarees and bedsheets, often unwashed, to manage their periods.
Through our Not Just a Piece of Cloth (NJPC) initiative, we not only gave them with MY Pads—our cloth-based, reusable pads—but also raised awareness about menstrual hygiene, stressing the importance of using clean, sun-dried cloth for this essential biological need.
For over two decades, Goonj has been working with women across India on mainstreaming menstruation as a human issue through our Four-A approach: Awareness, Affordability, Accessibility and Action. By repurposing urban surplus into cloth pads, NJPC serves as a tool for breaking deep-rooted cultural taboos, encouraging open dialogue, and shifting mindsets from shame to dignity.
Before Activity
During Activity
After Activity
Be a part of the change
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..
#Goonj #NJPC #MenstrualHygiene #ClothForWork #BreakTheSilence #ClothPads
