TFP Bureau, Korba, December 6, 2024: Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO), part of the Vedanta Group, has launched a two-day district-level workshop on Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management (MHM) as part of its community development initiative, ‘Naya Kiran’. Held at Mitan Bhawan, the workshop brought together teacher representatives from 113 secondary and higher secondary schools in Korba district. The focus of the workshop was to educate the participants on various aspects of menstrual hygiene and health, as well as introduce Module-1 on MHM.
The ‘Naya Kiran’ project, which is designed to raise awareness among women and adolescent girls, aims to address key issues related to menstrual hygiene, health risks, nutrition, and more. One of the major components of the project is the development of MHM-friendly schools, aimed at eliminating menstrual myths and misconceptions, and fostering good hygiene practices from an early age.
A key part of this initiative includes the provision of MHM Kits, containing pads, pad stitching materials, soap, and disposal bins. These kits are designed to support students in managing their menstrual health in a hygienic manner. The training sessions provided detailed guidance on physical changes during adolescence, menstrual health management, and hygiene practices.
Since the launch of the project in 2023, the number of trained schools in both government and private sectors has grown significantly from 71 to 113. As part of the training, one teacher from each school is designated as an ‘MHM Sathi,’ who will act as a resource person for menstrual health education. The broader goal of the campaign is to normalize discussions around menstruation, creating an inclusive and supportive school environment.
Speaking on the occasion, BALCO’s CEO and Director, Mr. Rajesh Kumar, emphasized that the ‘Naya Kiran’ project is an essential step towards improving the health of adolescent girls and women in the region. He added that the project addresses misconceptions about menstruation, helps raise awareness about menstrual health, and encourages positive societal attitudes towards the subject.
Since 2019, BALCO has been implementing the Menstrual Health and Hygiene Awareness Project in 45 villages and municipal areas of Korba, in collaboration with Sarthak Jan Vikas Sansthan. Over 600 MHM leaders, including adolescent boys and girls, self-help groups, Anganwadi workers, health workers, and teachers, have been trained under the project. These leaders have played a pivotal role in spreading awareness, reaching more than 50,000 people in the community.
