The Better India
Breaking the silence around periods
Coverage of menstrual education, PeriodShala and access to menstrual products in Bihar.
Read on The Better IndiaPeriodShala & SABLA
Periods Should Never Be a Source of Shame.
Knowledge changes conversations. Conversations change communities.
SumArth's menstrual health programmes create safe spaces where girls and women can understand their bodies, ask questions freely, challenge myths and manage menstruation with confidence and dignity.
Why Menstrual Health Matters
For many girls and women, menstruation is still surrounded by silence.
Questions remain unanswered.
Myths are passed from one generation to another.
Girls may experience their first period without understanding what is happening to their bodies.
Women may continue unsafe practices simply because nobody has created a safe space for conversation.
We are working to change that.
PeriodShala
Preparing Girls Before the Period Begins
PeriodShala is SumArth's school and adolescent-focused menstrual and puberty education initiative.
We believe menstrual education should begin before menarche, not after a girl experiences fear or confusion during her first period.
PeriodShala creates age-appropriate spaces to discuss:
- Growing Up & Puberty
- Understanding Menstruation
- The Menstrual Cycle
- Preparing for the First Period
- Menstrual Hygiene
- Nutrition
- Myths & Taboos
- Body Confidence
- Emotional Wellbeing
- Safe Menstrual Products
- Disposal & Environmental Responsibility
Our sessions encourage questions—not silence.
SABLA
Menstrual Health, Choice & Dignity for Women
SABLA works with women in communities to strengthen menstrual literacy and create informed conversations around menstrual health.
Sessions address:
Menstrual Hygiene & Health
Myths, Taboos & Restrictive Practices
Safe Use of Menstrual Products
Reproductive & Sexual Health Awareness
Nutrition
When to Seek Medical Advice
Safe Disposal
Dignity, Choice & Body Literacy
Sustainable Menstruation
Expanding Choice Through Menstrual Cups
Menstrual products should not be discussed through a one-size-fits-all approach.
Alongside pads and other menstrual materials, SumArth introduces women and girls to reusable options such as menstrual cups.
Our role is not to force a particular product.
Our role is to provide accurate information so menstruators can make informed choices.
Menstrual cups can provide a reusable, cost-effective and lower-waste option for those who are comfortable using them correctly.
Demonstrations address practical questions around:
Folding & Insertion | Removal | Cleaning | Hygiene | Safety | Comfort | Myths Around Virginity
Breaking The Silence
Questions from our sessions remind us why this work matters:
“Can I enter a temple during my period?”
“Will using a menstrual cup affect my virginity?”
“Why shouldn't we talk about periods in front of boys?”
Every question creates an opportunity to replace fear with knowledge.
Our Reach
30,000+ Women Reached Through Menstrual Health Interventions
But our impact is not measured only in numbers.
Sometimes impact is a girl saying the word “period” without lowering her voice.
Sometimes it is a mother deciding not to pass a restrictive practice to her daughter.
Sometimes it is a woman realising that she has a right to understand her own body.
That is change too.
Menstrual Health in the Media
News18 · Hindi
Menstrual-cup initiative in Gaya
Coverage of a menstrual-cup initiative in Gaya.
Read on News18 · Hindi