The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, FEB 8, 2024
The Ujaas Menstrual Health Express, a pioneering initiative led by Advaitesha Birla and backed by the Aditya Birla Education Trust, has reached Bhubaneswar. Following its impactful journey through Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh, this initiative aims to revolutionize menstrual health and hygiene awareness in the city.
The program has engaged with adolescent girls and women in Bhubaneswar through workshops held in local schools, orphanages, government-run colleges, and girls’ hostels. Free sanitary napkins were distributed as part of the initiative, which was facilitated by Ujaas’ NGO partner, Nirabhra Sustainable Development Foundation. Additionally, the initiative collected data on cultural practices and beliefs related to menstruation in Odisha to inform future interventions aimed at dispelling myths and stigmas.
Advaitesha Birla, the Founder of Ujaas, expressed optimism about the initiative’s impact on the menstrual health landscape in Odisha. She stated, “Our goal is to foster a culture that embraces and supports menstrual health. This initiative represents empowerment and change, paving the path for a more inclusive and enlightened future.”
Driven by a commitment to challenge taboos and misconceptions, Ujaas aims to raise awareness of menstrual health and hygiene across India. The ‘Ujaas Menstrual Health Express’ is set to cover 25 states and 107 cities, spanning over 25,000 kilometres. The specially designed Menstrual Health Express Van serves as a symbol of change, breaking down barriers, and promoting menstrual health as a fundamental right.
Ujaas emphasizes that the initiative goes beyond distributing menstrual pads; it is a broader movement challenging societal norms and advocating for menstrual health as an integral part of everyday conversation. The organization invites communities and citizens nationwide to join this transformative initiative and contribute to creating a society that embraces menstrual health and hygiene.
