BHOPAL: Police in Madhya Pradesh have joined hands with a non-profit organisation to conduct menstrual health awareness sessions for adolescent girls in government schools and hostels in Panna and Narmadapuram districts, in an initiative aimed at improving school attendance and strengthening child protection.
Under the programme, implemented by the NGO Samarpan in collaboration with district police authorities, officers participate in school sessions where girls are educated about menstruation, hygiene, nutrition and personal safety. The initiative also includes the distribution of reusable menstrual hygiene kits and awareness materials to students in rural and tribal areas.
The programme began in Panna district, where more than 8,000 girls and women studying in government schools and hostels have received menstrual hygiene kits along with health awareness sessions.
Each kit contains six reusable cloth pads and an information booklet in Hindi. The pads can be reused for three to five years when washed with mild soap and dried in sunlight, reducing the recurring cost burden for families and the environmental impact of disposable sanitary pads.
Encouraged by the response in Panna, the initiative has expanded to Narmadapuram district, where another 5,000 girls and women have received kits and training. Teachers involved in the programme say attendance among girls during menstrual days has improved in participating schools.
Police officers have also begun participating in the awareness sessions as part of community outreach efforts. Sai Krishna, superintendent of police, Narmadapuram, said the interactions help build trust between students and law enforcement. “When girls see police officers in schools speaking openly with them, it builds familiarity and trust. This can encourage them to report harassment or distress at an early stage,” he said.
The initiative has also been linked with the Operation Muskan child protection programme, under which teachers and police monitor sudden gaps in school attendance. If a student stops attending school, follow-up visits are conducted to identify possible causes such as family pressure, labour demands or other vulnerabilities.
According to organisers, the programme addresses a key challenge faced by adolescent girls across the country. India has more than 113 million adolescent girls, and studies by UNICEF and the National Family Health Survey indicate that many face difficulties managing menstruation safely and with dignity. Experts say that absence during menstrual periods contributes to school dropouts, with nearly one in four girls leaving school after puberty.
Dr Megha Bhargava, co-founder of Samarpan and joint commissioner of income tax, said affordability remains a major barrier. “Reusable kits remove the recurring cost of sanitary products and help girls continue attending school regularly,” she said.
Dr Ruma Bhargava, founder of Samarpan and former global health lead at the World Economic Forum, said cooperation between institutions is essential to address the issue. “When schools, health workers and police work together, they can prevent vulnerabilities that often lead to early marriage or exploitation,” she said.
Officials said the programme will continue to expand in other districts based on the response from schools and local communities.
