fbpx

Health

Even a small change can go a long way

Even a small change can go a long way

With an aim to spread awareness about the importance of menstrual hygiene, our team decided to visit Pandua village in Puri district of Odisha. During the visit we found out that most of the women there barely had any information around menstrual issues. They use cloth but maintenance of hygiene is usually overlooked. Also, our team observed that there were no bathrooms in the village and women had to bathe and change in the open.

...

Read More >
A positive step towards better health

A positive step towards better health

In a society which usually treats issues surrounding menstruation as a stigma and a taboo, the outlook of people of Rajasthan‘s Kharadi Phala village towards this subject is a testament to the positive change which is slowly, but steadily engulfing the country.

Situated approximately 70 km from Udaipur, Kharadi Phala houses around 290 families.

...

Read More >
The Journey from Just a Piece of Cloth to ‘MY Pad’

The Journey from Just a Piece of Cloth to ‘MY Pad’

Cloth is a basic need of a woman as is her self-respect and dignity. It is this symbiotic relationship between the two that calls for, “Not just a piece of cloth”. So Goonj started with the simple activity — of making a clean cotton cloth available...

Read More >
Indirect and invisible dimensions of menstruation

Indirect and invisible dimensions of menstruation

This deeply taboo issue has many impacts, which are still not part of the bigger discourse. This story touches upon some dimensions of how menstruation can be a monthly disaster for women...

Read More >
Veracity and effects of various sanitary pads available in the market

Veracity and effects of various sanitary pads available in the market

Today, a discussion and debate is raging about the veracity and effects of the various sanitary pads available in the cities and in the villages of India. One thing is clear that many people still have doubts...

Read More >
My Mother said so…!!

My Mother said so…!!

A nice breezy evening under the moon light with two torches. We were discussing about menstruation openly, frankly and loudly!!!!
I walked through the narrow lanes, climbed up the staircase and reached a small terrace in a slum where a lot of people involved in sex work live … There were no street lights but the big fat moon was shining above in its majesty.

...

Read More >
Realities of menstruation and drought

Realities of menstruation and drought

“कोई कोई एक कपड़ा चार बार इस्तेमाल करे है, कोई दस बार.” (some of us use one cloth 4 times while others use it 10 times). Another woman said, “माहवारी समस्या लगती है. अपनी समस्या किस्से कहे, अपने मर्द से भी नहीं कहे सकतें. जब कपड़ा गंधा भी मिल जाता है. धो कर सुखा लेते है माहवारी के लिए.” (Menstruation seems like a problem.

...

Read More >
Voices from the field; Tribal women speak up about NJPC & menses

Voices from the field; Tribal women speak up about NJPC & menses

“Even today at times of emergency while working in the field or when cloth is not available we use leaves from local Sal Trees.” The women of Koi tribe, Sugapada village of Daringbadi block, Odisha recently spoke to Goonj about their challenges around menstruation. Popularly called the Kashmir of Odisha; the Daringbadi block is surrounded by valleys,

...

Read More >
Smiling Rajasthani Women and Some Menstrual Stories

Smiling Rajasthani Women and Some Menstrual Stories

A group of women clad in the graceful traditional Rajasthani attire walked into Goonj’s Delhi processing center, it was a sight to behold. Their simple yet elegant disposition effortlessly attracted us. These women had travelled all the way from Barmer, Rajasthan along with Care India team to see Goonj’s work, especially our menstrual hygiene initiative NJPC,

...

Read More >
When girls from Miranda House college Delhi, spoke on menses!!

When girls from Miranda House college Delhi, spoke on menses!!

A girl from Miranda College, Delhi University said, “I have never bought a pad by myself.” You may find it strange but it’s true and unfortunately she was not the only one in the room saying the same thing.. Another girl in the room said “When I first came to study at the college from another town my mother gave me four packs of Pads,

...

Read More >
Why it’s ‘Not Just a Piece of cloth’

Why it’s ‘Not Just a Piece of cloth’

The Dire Need

For generations, mothers and grandmothers across the world have used cloth as a sanitary pad. It’s only in the last few decades that the big brands have taken over, in the name of convenience of ‘use and throw’. Yet, even today if you ask most women in a village, ‘How many saris do you have?’ many will tell you,

...

Read More >
Social media & sharing icons powered by UltimatelySocial