Vyomini Social Enterprise, a pioneer in women’s empowerment, commenced its mission to enhance menstrual health and hygiene awareness among 100 female workers at Hero MotoCorp with a two-day workshop held at their facility. During the two days of the workshop, female workers were informed about personal hygiene, toilet etiquette, sustainable sanitation, menstrual waste, etc.

While strides have been made to increase female participation in the workforce, menstrual hygiene remains a pressing concern. This workshop is a pivotal step towards reaching the women employed in the automobile industry. The industry has recently witnessed an influx in women employees, there is a pressing need to maximise their growth through comprehensive nurturing and education, enabling them to fully realize and unleash their true potential. Thus, Vyomini reached out to them to conduct open conversations on menstrual health.

Vyomini’s approach of 3A, Awareness, Accessibility and Affordability of the Menstrual Hygiene Management has been at the core of their initiatives towards reaching hundreds and thousands of women to empower and educate them on menstrual health.

Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, boasts over 1,500 women employees, including technicians and engineers, is taking necessary measures to encourage more female employees. Difficulty in working during menstruation, hesitant to address their issues, infrastructural problems, and taboo around menstruation can hinder both their health and work efficiency.The workshop aspires to empower women by equipping them with the knowledge and tools to manage their periods safely.

Prachi Kaushik, Founder and Director of Vyomini Social Enterprise, renowned as the pad woman of India, ensures that VYOMINI not only focuses on manufacturing pads but also contributes to strengthening sanitation infrastructure comprehensively. Sharing her opinions, she emphasized, “The automobile industry has long been perceived as a man’s world, but with conscious efforts from companies like Hero MotoCorp, this narrative is changing. According to UNICEF reports, while 180 million people menstruate every month worldwide, the awareness levels are significantly low. Many women have never had a proper conversation about menstruation and its impact on health. To address this gap, Vyomini has adopted innovative methods, including interactive Q&A sessions and audio-visual tools, making the workshop engaging and impactful.”

The workshop delved into physiological details, dispelled myths and taboos surrounding menstruation, discussed the ill management of menstrual health and its impact on reproductive health, and highlighted the importance of sanitary napkin usage. What set these sessions apart was their interactive nature, fostering open one-on-one discussions that provided a safe space for participants to share challenges and ask questions.