Menstrual Health Management in Maharashtra’s Tribal Ashram Schools
Making Educational Spaces Gender Responsive
January 24, 2025

“Earlier, I was scared to sit on the bench; I feared leaking. Now, I feel free. I can sit in class, play carefree and sleep peacefully without having the fear of staining my hostel bedsheet.”
Ashwini, a young girl from the Warli tribe of Maharashtra reflects upon how her life has changed since the launch of the Sanitary Napkin Distribution Scheme (SNDS) by the Tribal Development Department of Maharashtra.
Her story echoes across 497 government-run tribal Ashram Schools in Maharashtra, where thousands of tribal adolescent girls have faced similar challenges, often skipping classes due to discomfort, pain, and ultimately the fear of embarrassment.
As per the NFHS-5 Report of India (2019-21), 1 in every 3 tribal adolescent girls of Maharashtra still rely on unhygienic absorbents during menstruation, posing risks of infection and making it challenging for the girls to pursue their daily activities without discomfort. This reality highlights the urgent need for Menstrual Health Management (MHM) interventions during the critical years of adolescence of tribal girls.
Why Menstrual Health Matters
Menstruation is not just a hygiene issue—it is a matter of health, dignity, and rights. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), menstrual health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being in relation to the menstrual cycle. However, the reality for many adolescent girls, particularly in tribal communities, is marked by misinformation, stigma, and inadequate facilities.
Studies have shown that the challenges associated with menstruation directly affect girls’ school attendance, self-esteem, and overall development. The early puberty phase is a crucial juncture, as girls navigate physiological changes while also dealing with societal taboos. A supportive environment in schools can be transformative, boosting educational participation and empowerment at the right stage of their growth.
Maharashtra’s Initiative for Menstrual Health of Tribal Girls
The Tribal Development Department (TDD) of Maharashtra has long been working towards the holistic well-being of tribal girls. Through a comprehensive residential Ashram School model, the department ensures nutritional support, holistic learning environment and safe atmosphere for tribal girls of the state.
In 2022, TDD took another significant step by launching the Sanitary Napkin Distribution Scheme (SNDS), ensuring free access to hygienic sanitary napkins for adolescent girls in government tribal Ashram Schools. The scheme goes beyond distribution—it includes awareness sessions and menstrual health monitoring of all girls, facilitating an environment wherein periods no longer hinder the education of tribal girls.

Ensuring Uninterrupted Learning
In Maharashtra, UNDP is working closely with the Tribal Development Department to strengthen tribal education through a comprehensive approach that integrates health, nutrition, and learning, providing technical support to the department in developing mentorship and alumni connect programs to guide tribal students in their academic and career journeys.
Efforts are also being made to strengthen school management systems using app-based monitoring tools and to improve menstrual hygiene management practices in tribal schools. Additionally, UNDP is facilitating partnerships with organizations such as NIMHANS, UNICEF, and others to address critical areas like child rights protection and social-emotional learning. These initiatives aim to foster an inclusive and supportive environment, particularly for tribal girls. To assess and enhance SNDS, UNDP in partnership with TDD, conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the scheme. The study examined Implementation challenges, the quality of sanitary napkins, satisfaction levels of students and disposal mechanisms in place.
The findings are promising: 100% of beneficiaries now use sanitary napkins when they attend school, surpassing the state’s 71.2% average for tribal adolescent girls. The use of unhygienic materials like cloth has dropped to zero. Even during vacations, 97.2% of girls continue using hygienic products, reflecting positive behavioural change. Moreover, awareness sessions have reached 72% of schoolgirls, improving their understanding of menstrual health. A significant insight revealed that most of the support system for tribal girls was rooted in the school's ecosystem. Teachers, school superintendents, and peers accounted for 65% of the individuals they turned to for guidance and support during times of discomfort with menstruation.
Building upon the premise that school ecosystem serves as the most critical space for gender responsive interventions, UNDP is now facilitating the transformation of TDD’s initiative into a comprehensive Menstrual Health Management model to be implemented across all government-run tribal Ashram schools, including aspects of sustainable disposal systems, better storage practices and gender sensitive counselling sessions.
As a relief measure for tribal girls experiencing menstrual cramps, UNDP has also facilitated a partnership between TDD and Millennium Welfare Foundation, resulting in provision of 6,000 hot gel bags to these schools. Besides providing support in pain management, this initiative is also expected to reduce absenteeism among girls due to menstrual cramps and increase their quality of participation in school activities, further improving their overall well-being and educational outcomes.
A Future of Dignity and Inclusion is Within Reach
Research demonstrates that when schools integrate menstrual health programmes, they make girls more confident in managing their periods and encourage better health-seeking behaviours among them. In line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for creating gender sensitive and equitable learning environments for all, this initiative gives recognition to the dignity and self-respect of tribal girls.
This transformation unfolding in Maharashtra’s tribal Ashram schools is a testament to the power of focused interventions and serves as a replicable model for other state governments. This International Day of Education, let us reaffirm our commitment to creating an ecosystem where every child and young person, especially girls and those from vulnerable communities, finds the support they need to thrive. With every sanitary napkin provided, awareness session conducted, and school facility upgraded, we move closer to a future where nobody misses school because of their periods. Together, we can ensure that education is accessible to all, regardless of gender, identity or circumstance.
- Shubham Jha works for Convergence and Planning in the SDG Acceleration Unit at UNDP India