Breaking Taboos and Empowering Women: Bareilly School Teacher Launches 'Sanitary Pad Bank' to Promote Menstrual Hygiene
In a remarkable initiative to raise awareness about menstrual hygiene, a primary school teacher in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, has established a "pad bank" at her school. Rakhi Gangwar, the driving force behind this noble cause, aims to provide adolescent girls and women in the village with access to sanitary pads and educate them about proper menstrual hygiene practices. Gangwar's efforts have yielded positive results, as the pad bank at the government primary school in Boria village, Bhadpura block, continues to attract an increasing number of women every day. The initiative was launched on Mother's Day, May 15, after Gangwar discovered that many women in the village lacked awareness of menstrual hygiene and relied on unsanitary alternatives. Taking matters into her own hands, Gangwar personally invited mothers and women from the village to her school, where she emphasized the significance of health and hygiene, encapsulated by the tagline "Hamari Kishori, Hamari Shakti" (Our teenage girls are our strength). Using her own funds, she purchased sanitary pads and distributed them to the women. Gangwar's campaign has garnered support from the school staff, principal, and even male teachers from other schools who have joined her cause. Additionally, she arranges video consultations with doctors for women who require medical assistance. The impact of her efforts is evident, with 100-150 women now visiting the pad bank each month, and the numbers continue to rise. Gangwar's relentless dedication and the success of the pad bank have inspired more individuals to join the campaign. A sanitary pad company has even offered free pads to support this noble cause. With each passing day, the pad bank becomes a symbol of empowerment for women and a beacon of hope for improved menstrual hygiene in the community.
