Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow Campus organized a One Day Seminar on “It’s Not Always Just A Girl Thing – Menstrual Practices, Hygiene and it’s Better Management Among School and College Going Girls” on 30th January 2020. The seminar was supported and funded by National Commission for Women (NCW), Govt. of India and was held in collaboration with Vatsalya Organization Lucknow.
The seminar was attended by more than 200 college and school going students. The Chief Guest of the event, Mrs. Vimla Batham, President, UP State Commission for Women praised the organizer for conducting seminar on such a relevant topic and said that It is an intense issue that needs to be addressed openly rather than shying away. Dr. Neelam Singh, Chief Functionary of Vatsalya Organization emphasized that Menstrual Practices should be associated with pride and dignity, as it’s a girl’s reproductive right. Menstrual health and hygiene is not just a health issue but a multisectorial one, about which all should be educated.
The other speakers of the seminar were Dr. Aparajita Sengupta from All India Institute of Hygiene & Public Health, Kolkata, who discussed in detail on menstrual waste disposal and environmental concerns and apprised the audience about the Government’s focus on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM).Dr. Jyotsna Agarwal, Professor & Head, Department of Microbiology, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Institue of Medical Sciences, Lucknow apprised the audience of the important infections and pathogens, related with genital tract infections.Dr. S.Z.H. Zaidi, Director, Amity Institute of Behavioral and Allied Sciences,addressed the psycho-social interventions that may improve the outlook of society in dealing with management of menstrual practices. Panel discussion and brain storming session was undertaken by Prof (Dr.) Suneela Dhaneshwar, Prof (Dr.) Aparajita Dasgupta, Dr. Soni Kewalramani, Mr. Anjani Kumar Singh, with Dr. Aditi Singh as moderator.
In “My story” session, Ms. Anshu and Ms. Mansi from Saraiyya village,shared their experiences and how they are trying to break the myths and taboo associated with menstruation with support from their own families, which is definitely a step forward in our society and thus was appreciated by the audience with a thunderous applause.At the end, the screening of Oscar winning short film “Period – End of Sentence”, was welcomed by the participants, with a strong message to deal menstruation as any other normal body phenomena and how women empowerment is taking shape in heart of India.