Access to safe and dignified menstrual hygiene remains a critical challenge in India. It is not just a health issue but a cornerstone of empowerment for women and adolescent girls, especially in rural and underserved communities. With deep-rooted taboos, inadequate infrastructure, and environmental concerns surrounding menstrual waste, organizations like Gramalaya are leading the way in creating sustainable solutions.
In this insightful conversation, Padma Shri awardee and Gramalaya’s Founder, Mr. Sai Damodaran, shares the outcomes of the Fourth MHM India Summit and delves into the organization’s efforts to address menstrual hygiene through eco-friendly practices, community engagement, and advocacy for policy changes. From creating "Menstrual Hygiene Cafés" to promoting eco-friendly reusable cloth pads, period-friendly toilets in schools, this interview highlights innovative approaches to empower women and adolescent girls, ensuring their health, dignity, and inclusion.
Read on to explore how Gramalaya integrates Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) with Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) initiatives to foster sustainable development and long-term change.
Q. What are the key takeaways or outcomes from the discussions at the recently concluded Fourth Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) India Summit? How do you plan to translate these insights into actionable steps?
A. The Fourth MHM India Summit Convened by Padma Shri Mr S Damodaran, Founder and CEO of Gramalaya, underscored critical challenges in menstrual hygiene management (MHM), such as deeply rooted taboos, limited access to Menstrual Hygiene Facilities such as Clean toilet, water, soap and menstrual products and inadequate disposal systems. One of the key recommendations was integrating Comprehensive MHM into national health policies including community level interventions, ensuring consistent funding and attention.
At Gramalaya, we’re committed to addressing these gaps. Our focus will be on advocating for policy-level changes, including menstrual health education in schools, and scaling up community based programs that encourage eco-friendly menstrual products accessible to the deserving regions.
Q. Gramalaya has been at the forefront of advocating for menstrual hygiene. Could you share how your organization has contributed to breaking taboos and creating awareness around menstrual hygiene in India?
A. Gramalaya has always approached menstrual hygiene management as a priority. Over the past 10 years, we’ve implemented grassroots programs that engage both men and women to dismantle taboos and established successful demonstrated models in the MHM Sector. As a result of a decade of our work in the MHM Sector we were able to announce 200+ menstrual waste-free villages where menstruating women and adolescent girls using 100% eco-friendly reusable cloth pads. In addition to that, Gramalaya is supporting the households to get safe drinking water under Jal shakti mission and sustainable toilets under CSR support.
For instance, our Menstrual Hygiene Education campaigns in schools create safe spaces for adolescent girls to learn about menstruation and manage it with confidence. At the community level, we have a menstrual café—dedicated space where women can freely discuss menstrual health, access information, and receive support and referral linkages for menstruation health related issues.
We also collaborate with local influencers, self-help groups, Community Based Organizations (CBOs), PRIs, sanitation workers and medical practitioners to spread awareness. These programs are backed by innovative IEC (Information, Education and Communication ) tools like Snake and Ladder, Flashcards, and game based learning materials making the message relatable and impactful.
Q. What are the primary challenges you have encountered while promoting awareness and acceptance of menstrual hygiene in underserved communities, and how has Gramalaya addressed these?
A. One of the most significant challenges is the deep-rooted stigma around menstruation, which leads to silence, misinformation, and neglect. In underserved communities, this is added by lack of awareness and education about MHM, accessibility and affordability to safe menstrual products and the absence of safe WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) infrastructure.
To address these issues, Gramalaya promotes free distribution/ social marketing of eco-friendly reusable pads at subsidized prices to women and girls who cannot afford them. Additionally, we ensure schools are equipped with Girls friendly Toilet complexes which has privacy, safety to change clean up themselves and safe disposal facilities for used sanitary pads, along with that we provide hygiene corners at schools—where girls can access to soaps, handwashes, hand sanitizer which will be helpful in managing their periods.
By promoting clean toilets and water facilities in schools and communities, we’re addressing a core issue that affects menstrual hygiene. Beyond this, our awareness programs are helping both women and men understand menstruation as a natural process, breaking the silence around it. Gramalaya was instrumental in providing 900+ government schools in south India with Period-friendly toilet structure including handwashing station and disposal facilities.
Q. Could you elaborate on the strategies Gramalaya employs to ensure sustainable and scalable solutions for menstrual hygiene management, particularly in rural and marginalized communities?
A. Gramalaya focuses on solutions that are environmentally friendly, economically viable, and safe for health. Reusable cloth pads are one example—these are not only cost-effective for women but also significantly reduce the environmental burden compared to disposable alternatives. For Example one single use sanitary pads takes 500- 800 years to decompose, where one reusable cloth pad can replace the use of 100 single use sanitary pads and decompose within a few years of disposal. Gramalaya also promotes safe disposal practices for menstrual waste, particularly in schools and workplaces. Establishing systems for incineration and waste management helps mitigate the impact on the environment.
To ensure scalability, we build the capacity through the training of teachers, health workers, and community leaders. Gramalaya also forms School Hygiene Clubs and WASHMAN (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, Menstrual Hygiene and Nutrition) Committee at community level to ensure sustainability after withdrawal from the project areas. Members of these committees will continue to work for sustainability of the program on a voluntary basis.
Q. Can you provide insights into some of Gramalaya's ongoing projects and initiatives focused on menstrual hygiene management? What specific impact have these had on the target communities?
A. Gramalaya implements several impactful initiatives across the country. One of our flagship projects is DBSI School hygiene education, where we conduct workshops and provide resources such as hygiene kits, teacher’s curriculum manual, student workbook and hygiene corner. This program has significantly reduced absenteeism among adolescent girls during their menstrual cycles.
At the community level, our Menstrual Hygiene Cafés have become hubs for dialogue, education, and distribution of eco-friendly menstrual products. Through these, we’ve reached lakhs of women, equipping them with knowledge and products to manage menstruation in a hygienic way. Our partnership with Reckitt’s Dettol Banega Swasth India has helped us extend these efforts on a national scale, enabling us to reach the areas that were previously untouched. The impact is visible in improved school attendance, increased awareness about menstruation, and a gradual shift in community attitudes toward menstruation.
Q. What are Gramalaya’s future plans or vision for advancing menstrual hygiene management, and how do you intend to expand your reach in underserved regions?
A. Our vision is to ensure that every girl and woman in India has access to the knowledge, products, and menstrual hygiene facilities needed for safe and dignified menstruation. In the coming years, we aim to expand our reusable pad distribution networks, integrate menstrual health education into national curriculums, and advocate for MHM to be prioritized in government policies.
We also plan to scale our programs to reach more areas, particularly Coastal, tribal and remote regions. We are exploring new technologies for menstrual waste management, and MHM education.
Q. How have partnerships and collaborations with organizations like Reckitt’s Dettol Banega Swasth India or other partners contributed to Gramalaya’s mission? Could you share examples of successful partnerships and their impact on the community?
A. Collaborations with organizations like Reckitt’s Dettol Banega Swasth India have amplified our reach and impact. For example, through this partnership, we’ve been able to reach thousands of Government schools, promoting hygiene education and menstrual health awareness to millions of students.
Our partnerships with local governments, corporations, and NGOs have allowed us to utilize available resources effectively. These collaborations have strengthened our ability to address MHM challenges and ensure lasting impact in the communities we serve.
Q. Gramalaya has promoted initiatives like household toilets, safe drinking water, and hygiene education. How do these efforts integrate with your work on menstrual hygiene to empower women and adolescent girls, especially in underserved communities? What measures do you take to involve the community for long-term change?
A. Menstrual hygiene management is deeply integrated into our Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) initiatives. We recognize that access to clean water and safe sanitation facilities is fundamental to effective menstrual hygiene. By building household toilets, equipping schools with sanitation infrastructure such as Period-friendly toilet complexes, and promoting safe menstrual hygiene practices, we create a positive environment for MHM. This approach empowers women and girls to manage their periods without fear or stigma, improving their overall health and well-being.
Q. In your view, what policy changes or government support are needed to amplify the efforts for menstrual hygiene management in India?
A. Policy changes must prioritize MHM as a critical public health and education issue. This includes allocating dedicated budgets for menstrual health initiatives, integrating MHM education into the school curriculum and devising policies for menstrual waste management. We also need policies that support innovative menstrual waste management solutions and ensure menstrual products are accessible in schools, workplaces, and rural areas. By implementing these changes, we can create a system where MHM is treated as a priority.
Q. How does Gramalaya ensure that its menstrual hygiene initiatives align with sustainability goals, particularly in reducing waste and promoting eco-friendly practices?
A. Gramalaya emphasises the use of eco-friendly menstrual products, such as reusable cloth pads, to reduce waste and environmental impact. At the same time, we promote education on proper disposal practices, including the use of incinerators and alternatives for disposable period products.
By promoting reusable cloth pads Gramalaya, more than 900 tonnes of menstrual waste was prevented and more than 2 lakh women have made the switch to eco-friendly, cloth pads. Through partnerships and innovation, we aim to balance immediate menstrual health needs with long-term environmental sustainability. This approach aligns with our broader vision of creating healthier communities while preserving the planet for future generations.
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