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Menstruation and women have been playing the role of hide-and-seek for ages, and still continue to do so. While girls are shushed at homes for openly asking questions on menstruation, Bhavana Ganu, co-founder of Chariton Enterprises (www.chariton.in) leaves no stone unturned when it comes to spreading menstrual hygiene education at schools.

Not only does she bring about menstrual hygiene awareness but along with her co-founder, Villot Cardozo has helped several schools and official institutions in installing sanitary pad machines and incinerators (which helps destroy pad after use, without any harm to the environment).

We caught up with Bhavana to discuss menstrual hygiene, awareness, and installing machines and incinerators.

1. How Did That Idea Of Installing Incinerators And Sanitary Pad Machine Evolve?

India lacks basic facilities hence we thought we should make them available. We believed that offering a clean, hygienic toilet for a lady on the move is extremely essential. So while we started doing that, being a woman I also realized that menstruation can cause a lot of challenges for women in jobs which requires them to be out of the office without having access to a bathroom, so changing pads, taking a loo break becomes very difficult.

If its an emergency than first she will have to rush to a medical store, buy a pack of pads and then go hunting for a clean washroom to change in.

This had to change and we took up this challenge and decided to make a difference one toilet at a time. So apart from making a premium washroom that comes equipped with a sanitary pad vending machine, we also provide for sanitary pad vending machines and incinerators to schools, colleges, railway stations to name a few.

We have had 150+ installations till today. Many have been vastly executed through CSR initiatives of big corporate houses.

2. Difficulties You Faced While Doing So?

Change simplified is what we stand for, while we all know change is never easy. The very first hurdle we faced was that all accept products for free which is not possible, also when it comes to buying products, it involves a lot of permissions and hence slows down the entire process.

Secondly, a new technology, a new habit, the new way is always challenged. Though now we have now started getting a better response with education, we have not only provided for the machines but we also educate the school authorities and the girls on the usage which has tremendously helped.

3. When You Go To The Schools To Promote Menstrual Hygiene How Forthcoming Are The Teachers And Students To Accept This As A Natural Thing And Not Take It As A Stigma?

Girls are extremely forward-looking, they understand that their health and well being is their priority so they have always been open to listening to the awareness program.

They have been a little shy and so asking questions in open forums may have a lesser percentage but I get bombarded by questions on menstrual and personal hygiene after every session conducted by me and so I am happy that the girls are getting more inquisitive about themselves, their body and trying to be as much awareness as possible.

4. What Is That Winning Message You Say To Yourself Before Starting Your Day…

1. You have a dream; you got chase it…even if it means that you have to make temporary sacrifices.
2. Women, support women!

5. Three Winning Words Every Woman Should Incorporate In Her Everyday Life…

I am enough!

6. Favorite Quote

Everything is FIGUREOUTABLE – Marie Forleo

7. Your Future Plans?

To ensure each and every girl out there get access to a good quality sanitary pad while on the move; without being worried she may have a hunt for a medical store now and buy an entire packet even when requiring only one pad in an emergency.

So the vision is to have a smart washroom for ladies equipped with a sanitary pad vending machine every kilometer across the country.

8. Message To All The Winning Strees…

Be at it, as lots of people, INCLUDING YOUR OWN will tell you that IT IS NOT POSSIBLE to accomplish whatever that you are trying to achieve.

9. Do You Also Educate About Menstrual Cups As Well? Your Take On Menstrual Cups Being A Boon While Sanitary Napkins Create Environmental Issues.

There are many different kinds of products in the market, we only make people aware of most products, choice of what to use is to girls/women.

While women like Bhavana ensure that every girl and woman is aware of menstrual hygiene, as winning stree let’s do our bit by educating our daughters about the same rather than shying from the subject.