WHAT:

Spotless Dame is an initiative aimed at menstruation hygiene management and raising awareness on the sensitive topic of menstruation. The focus is on educating girls and women on understanding the practice of being safe during their periods and ending the silence surrounding it. The project attempts to enable women to lead healthy lives by breaking myths and taboos surrounding menstruation while supporting women with no access to sanitary products with Dignity Kits to Help them manage their periods with dignity.

WHY:

• Although menstruation is a natural process in a woman’s life, in many parts of rural India, young girls are expected to sit in a corner at home and not get involved in any kind of activity. General lack of awareness and poor menstruation practice leads to fungal infection, reproductive and urinary tract infection, vulnerability to infertility, etc. According to an NFHS survey 2015-16,
• Out of 355 million menstruating girls and women in India, only 12% use sanitary napkins.
• Almost 70% of the girls are not aware of menstruation before their first period.
• 14 percent of Indian girls reportedly suffer from menstrual infections owing to a lack of hygienic sanitary products
• 20% of Indian girls drop out of school after reaching puberty
• 28% of Indian school girls avoid going to school during their period owing to a lack of Knowledge
• An average woman disposes of around 150 kg of non-biodegradable waste in a lifetime
• Disposable pads or tampons take more than 500 to 800 years to decompose in landfill
• In villages, over 88% of girls and women resort to shocking alternatives such as cloth, ashes, and husk during menstruation resulting in health problems
• 14% of Indian girls reportedly suffer from menstrual infections owing to a lack of hygienic sanitary products.

There are numerous reasons behind this initiative

• Strong need for cloth pads.
• Need for job Opportunities among low-income women which enables them to face the exploitations of social and economic barriers.
• To eradicate the myth associated with cloth usage resulting in unhygienic practices.
• To end the taboos that affect women’s health. To contribute equally to the environment and women’s health.
• To educate people about menstruation.

HOW:

We work specifically with marginalized and vulnerable communities of the country, helping them manage their periods with dignity.

The Project Focuses on 4 E’s.

EDUCATION: We develop educational resources and work with schools, NGOs, tribal communities, factory workers, laborers, slum and street-living women, and many more facilitating educational programs that foster a responsible, healthy and dignified menstrual experience for girls and women.

EMPLOYMENT & EMPOWERMENT: We assist marginalized Indian girls and women in self-help groups to earn by stitching reusable washable menstrual pads which are ethically traded and support girls’ education to continue their studies as they have previously dropped out of their education due to financial and social barriers.

ENVIRONMENT: We produce and promote sustainable and safe reusable cloth pads made of Bamboo charcoal which is an Innovation of PraveenLata Sansthan appreciated and showcased in Dubai Expo at Indian Pavillion under startup India. Our pads are a sustainable menstrual product available for women across India which is cost-effective and affordable. Pads are available for sale nationally and internationally. These pads are made of natural fiber hence saves our environment from tons of Sanitary Plastic waste and Industrial Waste from Landfills.

IMPACT: Project Spotless Dame has reached out with a sustainable solution impacting big numbers in a short span of time. Since 2018 we have created a huge Impact.

SERVICE DELIVERY:

• 34081 Girls and Women from Tribal Community, Manrega Workers, Women living in Slums, Govt School Girls from Villages have been supported with Sustainable & Hygienic Washable Cloth Pad Dignity Kit along with Towel, Soap, Panties, and MHM Booklet to help them manage their Periods with Dignity
• 1205592 Girls and Women Trained on safe Practices on Menstruation Hygiene and Reproductive health management
• Saved our Environment from 721 Tons of sanitary Plastic Waste from our Landfills
• 151232 Free Disposal Sanitary pads Distributed initially 2 Years of the program
• Came up with own Innovative Cloth pads made of Bamboo Charcoal which was showcased at the Dubai Expo under the Innovation category by Startup India
• 30 Women are provided with sustainable Livelihood opportunities who earn money by making pads
• More than 1500 Boys and Mens engaged who became a part of that workshop in the rural parts of Rajasthan
• 75 Boys became a part of the Program working under the Internship Program for the Project from University Like SPJIMR, Jaipuria Institute, IIIM, etc.

AWARENESS GENERATION:

• Engaging Sarpanch of Villages, ASHA Workers & ANM, Government School Principals & Teachers & Community stakeholders who are Engaged to support our initiative in driving and Implementation to reach out to the deprived on Grounds
• IEC Displayed at Panchayats, Swasth Kendra - PHC, Washrooms in Govt Schools to create awareness, Used Standees, Banners, and Posters to create awareness around Safe Practices around Periods.
• Distributed 50000+ Pocket Diaries on MHM in Government Schools.

MEDIA AWARENESS:

• We use Social Media Platforms to create awareness around the subject like Facebook with 4729 Followers, Instagram with 1350 Followers, and Youtube with 400 Subscribers.
• While Print Media is used for Print Media Coverages. We have been covered by YouthKi Awaaz, Only Interview, Development Files 1344 Community People Benefited with Medical Health Check-Up Camps.

• Providing Sustainable & Hygienic access to menstrual health Products
• Capacity Building & intersectional workshops, Roadshows, ICT Material Formation
• Providing Livelihood to Women helping them become Economically Independent
• Save our Environment from landfills through Plastic Sanitary Waste and Industrial Waste.