Period Junction: AarogyaSeva's Pioneering Effort to Normalize Menstrual Health in India
Menstruation is a biological fact, yet it remains shrouded in shame, stigma, and misinformation across much of the world. In India, where cultural taboos still isolate menstruators and deny them basic hygiene facilities, AarogyaSeva has taken a bold step to confront this issue through its flagship initiative—Period Junction.
What is Period Junction?
Period Junction is not just a campaign—it's a movement. Launched by AarogyaSeva, this initiative aims to foster open conversations, community awareness, and policy-level action around menstrual health and hygiene. It brings together diverse voices—healthcare professionals, educators, social activists, policymakers, artists, and students—to challenge the myths and break the silence around periods.
Hosted in Bangalore, the Period Junction Conference has become India’s first multi-disciplinary platform solely dedicated to menstrual health. It serves as a space for learning, unlearning, sharing, and collaboration.
Why Menstrual Health Matters
According to UNICEF, 1 in 3 girls in South Asia miss school during menstruation due to inadequate facilities and misinformation. In rural areas of India, menstrual hygiene is rarely discussed openly, and sanitary pads remain unaffordable or unavailable to many.
Menstrual health is not just a women's issue—it is a public health, education, and gender equality issue. AarogyaSeva recognizes this intersectionality and is working to build a healthier and more informed society.
Highlights of the Period Junction Initiative
1. Menstrual Health Education Workshops
Period Junction organizes workshops in schools, colleges, and community centers that educate participants about menstrual cycles, hygiene management, and the importance of breaking taboos. The sessions are inclusive and often attended by boys and men as well.
2. Art and Expression for Awareness
Through theatre, poetry, photography, and installations, Period Junction transforms art into activism. One of the highlights includes menstrual art exhibits that feature real stories and experiences from menstruators across India.
3. Inclusion and Accessibility
The campaign focuses on marginalized groups such as the transgender community, differently-abled individuals, and menstruators in tribal and low-income communities. Menstrual products, educational kits, and health consultations are distributed during outreach events.
4. Policy and Advocacy
Through panel discussions and collaborative forums, Period Junction creates dialogue around menstrual leave policies, free sanitary pad distribution in public schools, and eco-friendly menstruation solutions.
Impact So Far
Over 10,000 students and educators reached through on-ground and virtual workshops
500+ volunteers trained to deliver menstrual education sessions
Partnerships with schools, NGOs, and local governments to scale community outreach
Multiple media features and social media campaigns amplifying awareness
Period Junction has also contributed to increased school attendance among girls in areas where awareness sessions and hygiene kits were distributed.
How You Can Be Part of the Change
Volunteer as a Menstrual Educator: AarogyaSeva provides training to volunteers interested in delivering sessions or supporting outreach.
Donate Kits: Contribute to funding sustainable menstrual hygiene kits for schoolgirls and women in underserved communities.
Host a Drive: Partner with AarogyaSeva to host awareness campaigns in schools, colleges, or corporate offices.
Spread the Word: The more we talk about periods, the more we normalize them. Use social media to amplify the Period Junction message.
The Bigger Vision
AarogyaSeva envisions a society where no girl misses school due to her period, no woman feels ashamed of her body, and every menstruator has access to dignified, sustainable menstrual care. Period Junction is not just about pads and hygiene; it is about empowerment, dignity, and breaking systemic silence.
To explore more or get involved, visit: https://www.aarogyaseva.org
Let’s stop whispering and start celebrating a normal, healthy process of life. Let’s join hands to make periods a point of pride, not pain.
