Turnstone Global, a nationally acclaimed Non-Profit Organization, has joined hands with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd and undertook “Project Roshni” in the district of Hooghly in West Bengal. This is a project on WOMEN EMPOWERMENT THROUGH AWARENESS ON MENSTURAL HEALTH & HYGEINE & LIVELIHOOD GENERATION. The manifold aims of the project was to create awareness among village girls and women living in the remote villages of Hooghly about menstrual Hygiene and to reduce the risk of different diseases relating to unhygienic practices during menstruation particularly cervical cancer.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Kanchan Gaba, Secretary, Turnstone Global said , “Cervical Cancer is the 3rd largest cause of death In India. Our aim was to improve the status of menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls and adult women in the community. We also wanted to provide a platform to the rural women to generate income through manufacturing of sanitary napkins.”
The project also has been a perfect example of women empowerment and economic self-reliance. Turnstone Global finally could install sanitary napkin manufacturing machines in the district, train over 260 women and formed 13 SHG groups who manufacture sanitary napkins under the brand name Gunjan. Turnstone Global is now helping the girls and women in marketing the brand and also sell the napkins to people and other NGOs working on menstrual hygiene. Turnstone Global has been able to make each member of these SHG groups to earn Rs 500 to Rs 2500 per month.
The idea behind the intervention is to mobilize the community and educate them on the gravity of the issues related to menstrual hygiene and how to tackle them. The SHGs are being empowered to start making low-cost sanitary napkins which is not only serve as a means to generate income but also making available the sanitary napkins for the rural community at a very low and affordable price.
Under the Project Roshni, Turnstone Global also conducted a baseline survey among 1020 village women and girls at Chanditala Block in Hooghly district in the year 2023. The study was conducted from 11 villages from 5 Gram Panchayats at Chanditala II block in the district of Hooghly , which is situated in rural area of West Bengal. The survey distribution of each village of each Gram Panchayats is as follows- Beledanga, Khanpur, Thero, Bamandanga, Kalachara, Gokulpur, Janai, Baksa , Madhabpur, Khoragori , Garalgacha.
Followings were the findings of the survey among these women :
• 80% of the respondents throw the used materials into ponds and bury them in the ground.
• 15% of the respondents throw away their used sanitary napkin or cloths along with other household waste or throw them in open land around their houses or in nearby ditches. Some of them also burn their used sanitary napkin or clothes.
• 82% of the respondents were not aware about menstruation before their first menstruation which is essential for girls.
• 19% of the respondents had scientific knowledge about menstruation.
The rest did not have any clear view about their menstrual cycle, of which about 3% still believe that menstruating women are unclean. Many women use clothes without following any proper cleaning procedures for reusable clothes. Some women even did not even wash clothes properly or dry them in the sun, or even not store them in a hygienic place.
● Disposal pattern of used material:
A practice of concern was the disposal pattern of used material. It was found that only 80% of respondents throw materials in the pond and also burial in the ground. It has been found that 15 % of respondents throw used pads or cloth along with other household waste, or throw the waste in open around the house or nearby ditch. Some of them also burn their pad or clothes.
It is also alarming that 98.82% respondents did not find awareness about menstruation before menarche which is necessary for girls.
Only 0.19% of the respondents have the scientific knowledge of menstruation. Rest of them do not have clear view of menstruation including around 3% women who still feel menstruating women are impure.
Many of them who use clothes are don’t follow the proper cleaning process of Reusable clothes.
Even some of them don’t wash the clothes properly, and don’t dry it on sunlight even don’t store at any hygienic place.
After completing baseline survey Turnstone Global along with Indian Oil conducted 54 school health camps and 26 community health camps . trainers emphasized topics like
Menstrual hygiene
Infections related to Unclean sanitary pads/materials
Importance of changing pads frequently
Information/advice on SRH (sexual & reproductive health) issues
Services for Tetanus Immunization
Services for Prophylaxis against Nutritional Anaemia
Risk of unsafe disposal of used sanitary materials
Risk of not washing hands after handling used sanitary materials.
Nutrition Counselling
Treatment for common RTIs (Reproductive tract infections)/STIs (Sexually transmitted infections)
Treatment and counselling for menstrual disorders
Treatment and counselling for sexual concerns of male and female adolescents
IDENTIFICATION OF WOMEN FOR CREATING SELF HELP GROUP
With the awareness camps the team Turnstone Global also started identify the girls for self-help group formation In the 3 blocks of Hooghly district namely Rajbalhat, Dhaniakhali and Singur.
Total 510 application were received.
After thorough interview and counselling 260 women were selected and divided into 13 SHG group.
The selection was based only on age and poor economic background status of the beneficiaries
Only from below poverty line women are being kept in all 13 self-help group.
