The Uttar Pradesh government has initiated a menstrual hygiene awareness program across all 746 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs), residential schools for girls. The 'Swachh Garima' campaign, implemented by the Basic Education Department, focuses on scientific education about reproductive health, nutrition, and communication rights.
Developed with UNICEF technical support, the curriculum uses visual aids and interactive methods to normalize discussions about menstruation. Female teachers are receiving specialized training to conduct these sessions, with plans to eventually include parents in the program.
Basic Education Minister Sandeep Singh stated the initiative aims to "replace stigma with scientific understanding." The phased rollout comes as government data shows only 58% of rural adolescent girls in UP use hygienic menstrual products.
The program supplements existing infrastructure improvements in KGBVs, including sanitation facilities. Independent education activists have welcomed the move but stress the need for consistent implementation monitoring and follow-up surveys to measure impact.
This initiative aligns with the state's education budget increase of 12% this fiscal year, with particular emphasis on girl child welfare schemes. Health experts note such school-based interventions could significantly reduce dropout rates among teenage girls, currently estimated at 17% in UP's secondary schools.
