A novel move to create awareness

Sanitation Solution’ – started as a project by the students of Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies (SSCBS), Delhi University to raise the awareness about menstruation as well as stigmas and diseases associated with it is now ready to play a larger role in the society. The project by Enactus and SSCBS has been approved in principal by Ministry of Women and Child Development.

“We will be executing our project in 21 districts all across the country,” says Harnav Juneja, a first year student and an active member of the team. “Earlier the camp was organised in slums and villages across Delhi and NCR at the college level but now we are expanding it with the Government’s support,” he says.

Harnav along with the seniors in the team has chalked out the basic plan. “There will be total three sessions,” informs Aantika Tandon, another team member. “In the first session, the focus will be on various health issues, primarily menstrual health and pregnancy. The objective is to clear all myths and taboos associated with the natural phenomenon of menstruation and to encourage the use of sanitary napkins,” she says.

“The team will shed light on the following aspects related to pregnancy like right age to get pregnant, ways to prevent pregnancy, unsafe sex and sexually transmitted diseases, nutritional requirements during pregnancy, proper steps to be taken during pregnancy, schemes being run by the Government for free delivery, lactation period and proper care of the child immediately after birth,” says Aantika.

On the other hand, the second session will lay emphasis on community building activities. “The idea is to get women to interact with one another and foster communication. Teams of five to six women each will be made to compete in an exciting and fun-filled art and craft competition.

The basic aim of this activity is to give women a first-hand experience of working in a team, to make them accept the challenge of working with completely new faces as a single unit and, to let imaginations run wild to set off a cascade of creative ideas,” says Harnav.

Finally, the third session will feature motivational and inspirational clippings to make women realise their position in society. “The purpose is to instil a feeling of self confidence in them, make them believe that no hurdle is too tough to cross, no river is too long to swim and no sky is too high to touch,” says Aantika.

On March 8, International Women’s Day the team will hold campaign in 14 slums and villages across Delhi, NCR, Haryana and Rajasthan.