Project Overview

In Kolkata’s urban government schools, adolescent girls face barriers to menstrual hygiene management (MHM) due to lack of access to sanitary products, inadequate disposal mechanisms and widespread stigma surrounding menstruation. These challenges often result in absenteeism, discomfort and health issues during school hours, further widening the gender gap in education.

To address these systemic barriers, SEED partnered with Red FM under its CSR campaign “Bajaao for a Cause – Pad Habit”. The project focused on breaking the silence around menstruation and improving access to safe, hygienic menstrual practices in schools through a comprehensive, one-year intervention

Fifty sanitary pad vending machines and fifty incinerators were installed in 50 government and government-aided schools across Kolkata. These units ensured consistent availability of menstrual products for girls in need, while the incinerators provided a safe and dignified disposal mechanism within the school premises.

To ensure the long-term success of the intervention, the infrastructure support was complemented by a robust capacity building component through school-based MHM workshops. These interactive sessions were conducted with students and teachers, focusing on biological understanding, hygiene practices, breaking myths and building menstrual confidence. Teachers were trained to become menstrual health champions and facilitate a more inclusive and supportive environment for girls in their schools.

The program combined infrastructure, education and advocacy in an integrated manner, promoting “Pad Habit” as a critical hygiene behavior while challenging taboos in public discourse. With the power of media-driven visibility from Red FM and the grassroots expertise of SEED, the initiative sparked important conversations around menstrual dignity in Kolkata’s schools.

Through "Bajaao for a Cause – Pad Habit," SEED and Red FM created a replicable and media-amplified model of menstrual equity and health education in city schools, laying the foundation for larger systemic change in MHM for adolescent girls.