Health and Hygiene

Women’s protection goes beyond preventing female feticide; it also includes promoting good health and supporting the betterment and development of women. With this in mind, the Toronto-Calcutta Foundation (TCF), a Canadian charity, has taken a significant step toward raising awareness among girls and women. 

Even in 2020, many women in various parts of the country still rely on unhygienic practices during their menstrual cycle. Instead of using sanitary napkins, they often use cheap fabrics, accompanied by numerous myths and misconceptions. This biological process continues to bring social stigma to women, limiting their participation in many areas of life. 

To address this, TCF has launched a special initiative aimed at breaking these taboos and educating girls about health and hygiene. The project mainly targets socio-economically disadvantaged girls and women and has been implemented in areas like Habra in North 24 Parganas, Hotar in South 24 Parganas, and Boral and Naktala in Kolkata. 

As part of the initiative, TCF is offering free coaching to female students in Habra and Hotar. A total of 80 students, from classes 9 to 12, have benefited from the project, with plans to provide free sanitary napkins to each of them every month. 

Additionally, a workshop was conducted to educate the participants on proper nutrition, menstrual hygiene, and to dispel common misconceptions about menstruation. The workshop led by Dr. Teesta Soman which focused on promoting a healthy lifestyle, was attended by 28 women aged 17 to 35, all of whom are students at a vocational sewing school established by TCF. The session emphasized that menstruation is a natural process and should not be a source of fear or shame. The biological aspects of menstruation were discussed in detail to foster a better understanding. 

The event was attended by Mr. Tapan Majumder and Mrs. Chitra Ghosh, Board Directors of TCF, while Dr. Teesta Soman, the director of TCF and a Canadian medical doctor, led the discussion on the benefits of using sanitary napkins. 

This initiative highlights the importance of both education and health in empowering women and breaking long-standing societal taboos. The article was originally published on February 7, 2020, in the Bengali newspaper Anandabazar and has since been translated into English. 

Each month, more than 400 girls and women benefit from this program.