In a modest room in rural Pune, as we engaged with a group of adolescent girls about menstrual health, Aarti, a young girl, with quiet determination, interjected, “Speaking to us is not enough, why don’t you also speak to our mothers?” This was not merely a comment; at Ujaas, it became an encouragement, giving us the perspective to engage with mothers, recognising that lasting change meant engaging those who shape a girl’s world.
Under the vision of my youngest daughter, Advaitesha, Ujaas launched a pilot programme in collaboration with Anganwadi workers (Sevikas), who were well-placed to connect with mothers in rural areas. As part of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), they play a vital role in delivering health, nutrition, and education services to women, supporting them from early childhood through adolescence and into motherhood.
The objective of the pilot programme was to leverage their network to reach out to a larger audience and, in this process, to strengthen the knowledge and skills of Anganwadi workers so that they can effectively conduct training sessions within their communities. This programme covered seven districts of Maharashtra: Latur, Washim, Satara, Amravati, Pune, Nanded, and Yavatmal.
Each Anganwadi worker reaches over one thousand people, and they have been poised to reach nearly one in four people within their communities, each becoming a powerful advocate for grassroots change. Since the pilot project began, close to a thousand workers have been trained in menstrual health support and outreach.
This shift from training to transformation is best understood through the lived-in experiences of those at the heart of it. For Ahilya, a 40-year-old Anganwadi worker from Washim, the training evoked powerful memories. She recalled her first experience of menstruation, a confusing time with little clarity or support. The sessions, she said, made her realise how important it is to speak openly with girls who might be going through the same emotions of fear and uncertainty.
Sangita, another Anganwadi worker from Latur, reflected on an experience from her own childhood. She was at a community event when she got her period for the first time. Panicked, she turned to a friend, who gave her a handkerchief and told her not to mention it at home, otherwise, she would not be allowed to attend such events again. Sangita believes that such silence must be broken and that it is possible to create an environment where girls can manage menstruation without shame.
For some, the training also shaped the way they approached parenting. A mother and Anganwadi worker from Latur, reflecting on her ten-year-old daughter, shared that she now feels prepared to initiate conversations at home. The training made her realise the importance of early and open communication, something she herself did not experience growing up.
The changes are already becoming visible. Anganwadi workers have begun conducting awareness sessions in schools and community centres. Encouraging shifts are already visible. Girls are growing more confident, conversations at home are becoming more open, and mothers are emerging as powerful advocates for change.
But this is just the beginning.
Looking ahead, we aim to scale this initiative to engage a network of 50,000 Anganwadi workers, with the potential to positively impact the lives of 2 million young women and girls across India. Change may not be immediate, but it is taking root, and where it matters most to reduce period poverty in the country.