In a significant step towards promoting menstrual hygiene, around 300 girl students from the Government First Grade College (GFGC), the pre-university college, and the high school in Kavoor, Mangaluru, received free sanitary pads during a dedicated awareness program. The event, focused on breaking taboos and educating young women, was organized recently on the GFGC premises.
Bi-Monthly Initiative Backed by Generous Sponsors
The program was jointly organized by the Women Research Centre and the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) of the college. Each student received a pack containing 12 sanitary pads. Crucially, this is not a one-off event. Prameela Rao of the Women Research Centre confirmed that such awareness programs and free pad distributions will be organized once every two months throughout the year.
The entire cost of this ongoing initiative is being sponsored by a US-based couple, Vinay Kumar and Dr. Sowmya Rao, along with a non-governmental organization called Code Crimson. In a further boost for the students, the same couple has also sponsored a six-month free computer training program.
Dignitaries Hail Donors as Role Models
Presiding over the program, GFGC principal Dr. Geetha ML urged the students to use the provided pads, highlighting that they are biodegradable, thus addressing environmental concerns related to menstrual waste.
The event was inaugurated by Kavitha KR, Joint Director of the Department of Collegiate Education, Mangaluru Regional Office. She praised the donors' kindness and held them up as inspirations. She specifically mentioned Dr. Sowmya Rao, who earned an engineering degree in India before pursuing dentistry in the USA, calling her a true role model. Kavitha emphasized that students should aspire to give back to society after achieving success. "The number of women entering the workforce increased from 11% to 48%. More women should come up and become role models," she stressed.
Pink Box Grievance System Triggers Change
Kavitha also commended the college's innovative 'pink box' system, which allows girl students to anonymously submit their grievances. It was precisely one such grievance regarding myths and misconceptions surrounding menstruation that prompted the college authorities to organize this comprehensive awareness session. "Thus, expressing is very important to find solutions for problems in society," she noted.
The awareness lecture was delivered by Dr. Ankita Sarkar, an assistant superintendent at Mumbai's Tata Memorial Hospital, and her sister Anuja Sarkar from Code Crimson. They addressed the students, dispelling common myths about periods, explaining the need to change pads every four hours, the importance of period tracking for health monitoring, and the environmental impact of improper disposal of used sanitary products. The core message from the experts was clear and empowering: "Periods are natural."
This holistic program in Mangaluru, combining direct aid with education and a sustainable approach, marks a positive move in normalizing menstrual health conversations and supporting young women's well-being and education.
