CHANDIGARH, MAY 31 — The Punjab Government has launched a widespread school-based menstrual health education initiative targeting more than 3.4 lakh adolescent girls across 3,600 state-run schools.
The phased statewide expansion of the structured curriculum covers government high and senior secondary schools across all 23 districts of Punjab. The initiative, tailored for students from Classes VI to X, aims to eliminate social stigmas and ensure health challenges do not disrupt formal education.
The administration introduced the program in collaboration with WASH United, an international non-profit organization specializing in menstrual health awareness. To ensure maximum comfort and regional relevance, the specialized lessons have been fully developed in Punjabi.
State officials noted that the classroom curriculum aligns with directives from the Supreme Court of India regarding the preservation of dignity, education, and equality for adolescent girls.
“The Menstrual Hygiene Curriculum effectively breaks menstrual taboos by creating safe spaces for girls to ask questions and share experiences,” stated Jaspreet Kaur, a participating teacher from Faridkot. “The interactive approach using stories, games, and visuals makes learning relatable and reduces stigma.”
The program features story-based learning sessions centered around a fictional young character to encourage open classroom discussions regarding bodily changes, self-care, and personal confidence.
To execute the project, the state trained 100 resource persons as master trainers, who subsequently conducted cascade training sessions for approximately 7,200 teachers across the state. This large-scale preparation follows a pilot project involving 45,000 students, where 94 percent of involved educators recommended a full statewide rollout.
Student participants reported that the safe classroom environment altered their perception of reproductive health.
“The sessions increased my confidence and helped me understand that periods are a normal biological process and not a disease,” remarked Komal Preet Kaur, a Class IX student from Sangrur.
