Good morning, everyone!

I hope this bright day brings you all joy and

enthusiasm. Today, as Head of the Girls’ Welfare Committee, I Meera Patel
from grade 10, am honoured to address you on the project “Normalising
Periods.”

In our journey towards creating a supportive environment, it’s essential to break

the stigma surrounding periods.

Every month, millions of adolescent girls around the world face a miserable cycle of pain,
discomfort, shame, anxiety, and isolation when their menstrual period arrives. The absence of
facilities, coupled with the shame and fear of exposing their menstruation, mean that many
adolescent girls are forced to miss school during their period.
Because of firm stigma and taboos, menstruation is rarely discussed in families or schools, and
menarche often arrives suddenly to girls with little or no knowledge of what is happening. Often
considered a shameful, dirty, female weakness, the secrecy surrounding menstruation has
permeated every aspect of society, nurturing superstitions and taboos that are passed on between
generations. In many communities, menstruating girls and women are still banned from kitchens,
crop fields, or places of worship.

Menstruation is a natural process in a healthy adolescent girls body, and it’s

time we treat it as such. It's time to have open conversations, drive away myths, and
eradicate the shame associated with a natural biological process. parents and wider family
members need to be educated about their cultural traditions and superstitions, which might be
unintentionally causing harm to women and girls. But to establish sustainable social change,
education is key. All girls and boys must be educated about menstruation and reproductive health
to empower them to talk comfortably and candidly about periods and sexual health.

Our welfare committee is dedicated to fostering an atmosphere where everyone

feels comfortable discussing and understanding menstruation. We educate girls
in our school about menstruation, health and hygiene to be maintained. Our
GWC members take continuous follow ups as well as create awareness through assemblies and
soft boards.

Lastly, periods ko normal manane ki shuruwat humse honi chahiye... tab hi

dusre ise normal maan payenge!!
Menstruation, a sign of good health, must be normalised, and celebrated.
Let’s join our hands together and take a small step towards this positive change. Thank you!!