Menstrual Hygiene & Free Sanitary Pads Distribution

In India, menstruation remains shrouded in silence and stigma, with over 71% of girls unaware of menstruation before their first period. PlanCare's Red Dot Campaign directly addresses this crisis through comprehensive menstrual literacy programs and sanitary pad distribution in underserved communities.

With approximately 500 million women worldwide lacking access to proper menstrual products and private spaces, the issue is particularly acute in rural India where 50% of women use unhygienic alternatives to manage their periods, leading to severe health risks including reproductive tract infections.

Our initiative not only focuses on providing free eco-friendly sanitary products to those who cannot afford them (70% of Indian women) but also works to dismantle harmful social taboos that keep 23% of adolescent girls out of school permanently once they begin menstruating.

PlanCare's approach to rural schools is systematic and culturally sensitive, with trained volunteers traveling to remote educational institutions where the need is greatest. By directly entering these underserved school environments, we reach girls who would otherwise have no access to menstrual health information or products.

Our school outreach program begins with establishing relationships with headmasters and female teachers, creating trusted partnerships that facilitate open discussions on this traditionally sensitive topic. Workshops are designed for the specific context of each village, addressing local taboos and practices while providing universal health information.

The impact of our direct school approach has been transformative—in villages where PlanCare operates, teachers report dramatically reduced absenteeism among female students. With dedicated menstrual hygiene corners now established in over 50 rural schools, girls have access to emergency products and private spaces for managing unexpected periods during school hours.

Our comprehensive menstrual health education program addresses the critical information gap that leaves most adolescent girls unprepared for menstruation. Through age-appropriate, culturally sensitive workshops, we've achieved a 65% increase in menstrual health knowledge among participants in rural communities.

PlanCare's educational approach goes beyond basic hygiene to include biological understanding, nutritional needs during menstruation, and environmentally responsible product disposal. We create safe spaces where girls can ask questions and receive accurate information, countering the misinformation that often comes from conflicting sources.

Recognizing that lasting change requires community-wide understanding, our programs also engage teachers, mothers, and importantly, boys and men. This inclusive approach helps create supportive environments where menstruation is understood as a natural process rather than a source of shame or limitation.

Meaningful change in menstrual health requires addressing the deep-rooted social taboos that stigmatize periods. PlanCare's community engagement initiatives bring together all stakeholders—from school administrators and parents to religious leaders and local government officials—to foster open dialogue about menstruation and its impact on girls' wellbeing and education.

Our workshops with mothers are particularly impactful, as studies show 70% of Indian mothers consider periods 'dirty.' By providing accurate information and challenging harmful beliefs, we transform mothers from potential perpetuators of stigma into advocates for their daughters' menstrual health and dignity.

Notably, our programs include men and boys, recognizing that gender-inclusive education is essential for creating truly supportive communities. When brothers, fathers, and male teachers understand menstruation, they become allies in ensuring girls have the resources, time, and privacy they need during their periods.