HGC funds SHE Matters - providing sanitary pads to women in Mumbai slums

HGC works with Dia Parasrampuria, the director of SHE Matters, in Mumbai. We gave her $300 to provide menstrual pads to women and girls in the Mumbai slums.

Dia sent us this email afterwards:

With these funds you have enabled me to buy 10650 sanitary pads which will be distributed to 550 underprivileged  women all over Bombay. We are thrilled to have your support.

You truly make the difference for us , and we are extremely grateful. Your support helps to further our mission through the distribution of sanitary pads to create awareness of the importance of menstrual hygiene

We have distributed pads in slums of colaba and cuff parade , the locality ghatkopar and Ambedkar nagar. To see the happy faces of these women and young girls truly touches my heart.

Goals of Dia’s Menstrual Mission - 

1. Education and de-stigmatization of menstruation. Teaching girls what menstrual hygiene is and what to expect from it, and breaking taboos and stigmas around menstruation

2. Making sure girls have sanitary pads

Dia also goes to schools for the poor to ensure underprivileged girls know how to use and dispose sanitary pads correctly. 

Dia Parasrampuria

interviewed by Ishita Ramanujam

Question: When did you start SHE Matters and what motivated you? 

Answer: Beginning of April, 2020.  The pandemic is deepening inequality, and exposing vulnerabilities in social, political and economical systems. From health to economy and hunger the impacts of Covid-19 are exacerbated for women and girls. Economic stress on underprivileged families has increased as many struggle to stock household supplies and non-perishable goods, but the importance of menstrual hygiene for teenagers and women is often overlooked. While everyone focused on distributing rations and meals, sanitary products were forgotten. So I decided to take up this initiative and begin my menstrual mission.

In a country where only 36% of its 355 million menstruating females use napkins (the remaining use old cloth, rags, etc.) and most young females in small villages who receive sanitary pads from their local schools have been facing a massive shortage due to the closure of schools - the situation of pad shortage arose when the lockdown was announced and only after the first ten days did the government allow the production and factories to reopen, there is still a shortage of workers and production is not fully operational.

Which communities are mainly impacted ?

Underprivileged women all over Bombay, young teenagers from the slums. I have distributed 25,000 pads all over Mumbai, and I also reached cyclone victims of Calcutta, and migrant workers in Goa.

How are these communities impacted ?

They are struggling to buy household products and do not have money to spend on sanitary products with most of their jobs lost and no income for their families they will not be able to buy sanitary products and remain hygienic thus I decided to take up this initiative. It is overwhelming to hear from people to who I have distributed these pads. The people were really grateful. 

Many ladies sent me videos thanking me and I received various emails which very touching and encouraging. I was so touched that I want to take this ahead in a big way.

What are your core objectives ?

The core aspects of my menstrual Mission: 1) access education 2) making sure girls have access to sanitary pads, 3) teach girls about menstruation hygiene and what to expect from it, 4) break taboos and stigmas around menstruation

Have you volunteered in the past and what did you do ? 

When I was in the 9th grade I started the Back-On-Their-Feet initiative which was a campaign to give mobility to villagers who have lost their legs to amputation in the very backward Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. 

I raise 1 lakh 50 thousand to give prosthetics (artificial limbs) to those who have lost their legs to accidents, disease and birth deformities. This is being planned with a focus on the towns of Wardha, Yavatmal and Chandrapur in the Vidarbha region. The limbs will get them to walk again, be mobile, transform their lives and the lives of their families. Each prosthetic limb costs just INR 10000 to fund. Together, we could make a change & actually help someone get back on their feet.

I have also volunteered at the Children’s Cancer Society as well as some municipal schools to teach young children art.

Many teenagers want to contribute to their community but are unsure how. What are simple ways people can help others ?

Think of something they are passionate about, look it up the net and volunteer. Also they could work with their friends to create a project.

Climate change needs to be tackled - what are your sustainable development goals for She Matters?

We try to distribute bio degradable pdf with the funds and reduce the use of plastic.

What do you plan to do with additional funds and where do you see SHE Matters in 5 years ?

I plan on distributing pads to women in slums all over India and to help women understand the importance of menstrual hygiene. Also, I plan to install sanitary pad vending machines, and go to schools and talk about menstruation hygiene, and break taboos stigmas.