Pilot projects underway in Amravati, Palghar, Thane and Washim districts of Maharashtra.

Mumbai, December 10, 2021 (GPN): Today on World Human Rights Day, Aditya Birla Education Trust announced the launch of its new division ‘Ujaas’ which will be driven by its young and enterprising Founder, Advaitesha Birla. In the pre-launch phase, pilot projects of Ujaas are already in progress in the hinterlands of Amravati, Palghar, Thane and Washim districts of Maharashtra. Ujaas has conducted menstrual hygiene workshops and sanitary pad distribution in Sangli, Ahmednagar and Gadchiroli districts of Maharashtra. In the wake of this year’s floods in Kolhapur and Konkan, Ujaas has provided relief in the affected areas. Not confining its footprint just to rural India, Ujaas has also provided support to the inmates in Byculla Women’s jail & Thane Central Jail.

As per The United Nations Population Fund (UNPF), menstruation is basically related to human dignity – when girls and women cannot access safe bathing facilities and safe & effective means of managing their menstrual hygiene, they are unable to manage their menstruation with self-esteem. Menstruation related mocking, alienation and humiliation also undermine the principle of human dignity. Gender inequality, extreme poverty, humanitarian crises and age-old traditions all can relegate menstruation into a period of deprivation and stigma, which can undermine the enjoyment of fundamental human rights. This is true for menstruators including girls, women, transgender men and non-binary persons. Some of the universally agreed human rights that can be undermined by women’s and girls’ treatment during menstruation are right to health, right to education, right to work, right to non-discrimination and gender equality and right to water and sanitation. This year’s Human Rights Day theme relates to ‘Equality’ and Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”

A lot of Indian women still do not have access to basic menstrual hygiene. 2 out of 3 women use mud, cloth & leaves as alternatives to sanitary napkins (National Family Health Survey). 71% of girls remain unaware of menstruation till their first period (Spot On! A report by NGO Dasra). Around 23 million girls in India drop out of school every year due to a lack of menstrual hygiene management facilities (National Family Health Survey). To take on this monumental problem, Aditya Birla Education Trust has launched ‘Ujaas’ on the occasion of World Human Rights Day, which will provide a holistic program covering three crucial aspects of awareness, distribution, and sustainability. Ujaas endeavours to raise awareness and attempt to alleviate the stigma associated with menstruation, distribute free sanitary napkins to women and girls and identify different sustainable measures of menstrual hygiene and management. To those who wish to give back to the society, Ujaas will also have volunteering opportunities to create awareness regarding menstrual health and hygiene among the community.

Speaking about the launch of Ujaas, Advaitesha Birla, Founder said, “Menstrual hygiene is a critical aspect contributing towards adolescent and women’s health. It is often not given enough importance due to stigmas, biases, mindsets, and the secondary status of women. And over time menstruators face menstruation-related exclusion, neglect or discrimination. The deep-rooted taboo surrounding this issue further prevents girls and women from articulating their needs and problems regarding menstruation. Ujaas focuses on providing a broader and comprehensive approach to promote menstruation health and management. Through this initiative, we strive to make a positive impact on society, and transform the perception around menstruation among all stakeholders.”

About Ujaas

Ujaas is Aditya Birla Education Trust’s new vertical, prioritizing menstrual health and hygiene management as a key focus area. Ujaas endeavours to be a nationwide initiative to support menstrual health awareness and management among menstruators, primarily girls and women. Ujaas focuses on providing a broader and multifaceted campaign to promote menstruation health and hygiene management. Ujaas provides a holistic program that focuses on three crucial aspects of awareness, distribution, and sustainability. Through this initiative, Ujaas strives to make a positive impact on society, and transform the perception of and alleviate the stigma around menstruation. Ujaas has begun work in Mumbai, Thane and rural areas of Maharashtra. The initiative Ujaas is driven by its young and enterprising Founder Advaitesha Birla.

About Aditya Birla Education Trust

Aditya Birla Education Trust (ABET) is an organisation committed to the cause of education and mental health, with an objective to nurture young minds. Right from establishing the Aditya Birla World Academy, an International School with an Indian soul, to The Aditya Birla Integrated School, which acknowledges the need to cater to children with different learning needs, ABET has always prioritised the importance of a child’s overall development. Further under the aegis of ABET, the Aditya Birla Education Academy provides professional development opportunities for educators, and engages, empowers and equips them to contribute towards shaping the future of young minds. In an endeavour to stamp out stigma surrounding mental health concerns, ABET has established Mpower, a holistic mental health care initiative, which has become the pioneer of mental health awareness in the country. ABET recently launched a new vertical Ujaas with an objective to support menstrual health awareness and management. Aditya Birla Education Trust runs under the zealous leadership of its passionate and committed Founder & Chairperson, Mrs. Neerja Birla.