In compliance with the orders of the Supreme Court, the State Department of School Education has mandated the celebration of Menstrual Hygiene Day across all government schools in Punjab on Friday.
While the event is globally observed on May 28 every year, the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Punjab, issued a revised directive shifting the celebration to May 29, owing to a declared government holiday on the previous day.
The event will now be observed in all Government High and Senior Secondary Schools across Punjab following previously issued guidelines.
To effectively spread awareness, the School Education Department collaborated with WASH United to develop a dedicated Punjabi edition learning module titled “Ruby’s World”.
The state has undertaken extensive preparation to ensure the successful implementation of this drive.
A group of 100 teachers from 100 selected government senior secondary schools were initially trained via a pilot project.
District-level workshops on menstrual health and hygiene were organised between May 13 and May 16. Through these workshops, trained master trainers further educated 2 teachers per school across 3,668 government secondary and senior secondary schools.
School heads have been instructed to firmly establish a “Period Friendly” environment and ensure that the awareness and education activities are conducted during the event. Dedicated sessions are being used with the help of the “Ruby’s World” module to educate female students on menstrual health, safety, nutrition, self-care and mental well-being.
Female students are being provided clear guidance on the safe use and proper disposal of sanitary pads.
Schools have also been directed to review and ensure the availability of clean washrooms, adequate water supply and functional sanitary pad disposal systems. Other activities include utilising “Pink Societies” and Health & Wellness Clubs to host poster-making, slogan writing, essay writing and awareness rallies.
Both students and teachers are being encouraged to cultivate a sensitive and positive mindset toward menstruation.
The SCERT has marked this initiative as highly urgent. All school heads across Punjab are required to compile a brief report accompanied by photographs of the activities conducted and submit them to their respective district offices in a timely manner
