Swachh Bharat, Swachh Betiyan: Hygiene campaign launched in Raipur to break menstrual taboos

RAIPUR: In an effort to promote awareness of hygiene, especially menstrual hygiene, the Times of India, in collaboration with the Raipur District Administration, Raipur Municipal Corporation (RMC), Raipur Smart City Limited (RSCL), and My Beti, has initiated a campaign titled “Swachh Bharat, Swachh Betiyan.”

The campaign was launched at J.R. Dani Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Raipur, on Wednesday. Students of the school enthusiastically participated in the campaign’s inaugural session.

Raipur District Collector Dr. Gaurav Kumar Singh, while engaging with the students, emphasized the importance of personal hygiene and cleanliness in daily life and encouraged them to actively spread this message within their households and communities.

The District Collector urged the students to help eradicate the taboo related to menstrual hygiene that prevails in society. He placed special emphasis on menstrual hygiene, aiming to break the stigma surrounding the topic and ensure that girls and women have access to safe and clean menstrual practices. He encouraged the students to openly discuss menstrual hygiene at home to create awareness among family members.

The Collector appreciated the efforts of My Beti for providing sanitary pads to the students and commended The Times of India for organizing such an initiative.

As part of the initiative, the students took a pledge to maintain cleanliness in their surroundings, promote good hygiene practices, and spread the message within their communities.

The Collector urged them to become ambassadors of cleanliness, advocating for a healthier and more hygienic environment.

A dental check-up camp was also organized on the occasion, benefiting hundreds of students.

RMC Commissioner Abinash Mishra, Raipur Jila Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Vishwadeep, District Education Officer Dr. Vijay Khandelwal, founder of My Beti Dr. Jawahar Surisetti, RMC Additional Commissioner Rajendra Gupta, School Principal In-charge Dr. Hitesh Diwan, and TOI State Head Rakesh Nigam graced the occasion.

Earlier in the event, RMC Health Officer Dr. Tripti Panigrahi and Swachh Bharat Mission Nodal Officer Mr. Yogesh Kadu addressed the students and teachers, further reinforcing the importance of cleanliness and hygiene. They discussed how simple yet effective cleanliness practices can lead to healthier communities and help prevent diseases.

As part of the larger “Swachhata Hi Seva, Sampoorna Swachhta” campaign, students, teachers, and officials of the Raipur Municipal Corporation took a collective pledge to maintain cleanliness.

The students were also encouraged to educate their families about the importance of hygiene. A special focus was placed on preventing mosquito-borne diseases like dengue by regularly cleaning window coolers, draining standing water from pots, tires, and containers, and ensuring that there are no areas where mosquitoes can breed.

The students were asked to be vigilant about their surroundings and take responsibility for promoting cleanliness both at home and in their neighborhoods.
Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Valentine's day wishes, messages and quotes !