On Aprill 9, 2018, Mr. Iftekhar Ahmado, District Education Officer, Motihari; Shri Dipanker Shri Gyan, Director GSDS; Mr. Roopak Roy Choudhury, National Coordinator Sulabh School Sanitation Clubs; Mr. Shekhar Kumar Sinha, Mr. Rajkumar Sharma, DPO Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA); Headmistress of the Vidyalaya, Ms. Neeta Sharma; Smt. Sameeksha, Smt. Geeta Shukla, GSDS staff joined at a function to inaugurate the “Sanitary Napkin Production Unit” at Kasturba Balika Vidyalaya, Peeprakothi.

The low-cost sanitary napkin production unit is also an endeavor of the Samiti in association with Sulabh International to address issues of menstrual health and hygiene. Girl students studying at the Vidyalaya will be trained in the production of the sanitary napkins.

Smt. Geeta Shukla, Research Officer, GSDS said, “To give a boost to the crucial issue of menstrual hygiene, this programme has been launched and a production center has been established. This will also give a boost to the women in the area who could get access to low-cost sanitary napkins and will not depend on the traditional systems”.

Shri Dipanker Shri Gyan, said that the production unit will in time cater to supplying sanitary napkins to the different places where easy napkin vending machines have been set up. This will also provide the skill to the girls and make them empowered. “Life-skills based hygiene education helps children to change behavior and so reduce risks and prevent water and sanitation-related diseases”, he emphasized.

Shri Roopak Roy Choudhury further said that sensitization of adolescent girls and women of the area is a necessity and therefore there is a need to run advocacy programmes for the adolescent girls in the schools too.

From April 10-14, 2018, the Samiti engaged itself in its preparation for the work at the Zila School, Motihari Railway Station, Charkha Park, Kasturba Balika Vidyalaya, Peeprakothi, Rajkiya Madhya Vidyalaya, Chandrhaiya for developing its interpretation centres, coordination and engaging with the media for awareness generation.

• Inauguration of Interpretation Centres, Plaques and Charkha Chowk by Hon’ble Shri Radha Mohan Singh, Union Agriculture Minister