Fellow: Nasreen Ansari

Grant Year: 2019

Location: Nagpur District, Maharashtra, India

Organization: Amhi Amchya Arogyasathi

Project title: Nayee Disha – A New Direction (Awareness and Advocacy Program on Menstruation, Sanitation, and Hygiene Among Adolescent Girls)

Project summary: Amhi Amchya Arogyasathi will advocate with the Nagpur City Municipal Deputy Commissioner and Education Officer to issue an order, including budget allocation, to set up free feminine hygiene facilities, such as a sanitary pad vending machines and disposing units, along with comprehensive menstrual hygiene education to 560 girls in 28 municipal schools across Nagpur district. They will engage Muslim adolescent girls in their advocacy efforts to generate awareness on menstrual hygiene and to advocate for the provision of sanitation facilities under Right to Education Act. The menstrual hygiene facilities will be set up in municipal corporation schools on a pilot basis and will eventually be extended to all schools in Nagpur district. They will ensure the implementation of regular educational sessions for all girls in the 28 Municipal Corporation schools in Nagpur to teach them about menstrual hygiene and how to speak up for their rights. They will also be able to ensure they have access to other related facilities including separate toilets, a water supply, in addition to sanitary pads and a disposing unit. With government funding and support to set up feminine hygiene facilities in 28 schools to benefit 560 girls, girls in Nagpur district will have their basic needs met, be able to go to school, be empowered to claim their rights, break the silence around menstrual hygiene, and combat misconceptions among Muslim adolescent girls.