How Juhi from Varanasi Leads A Period Positivity Movement in Her Village
From using old clothes during her periods to now leading awareness campaigns on menstrual hygiene, 17-year-old Juhi (name changed to protect identity) from a Musahar basti in Varanasi is proving how knowledge and courage can change lives — not just her own, but also those of many other girls in her village and beyond
Varanasi, She is evidently in a rush, as a voice calls out her name over the microphone – “Juhi… Oye Juhi…”. But she pauses for a moment to speak. She's one of the lead organisers of the Adolescent Health and Nutrition Week campaign being held in Varanasi’s Pindra block from May 21 to 28.
“I need to run, but this is important,” she smiles. “Growing up in the Musahar Basti in Kharuapar village was tough. My family of six barely survived on daily-wage work. For us, things like sanitary pads were out of question – those were ‘luxury products’ we couldn’t afford.”
Back then, Juhi used whatever she could find during her periods — worn-out pieces of polyester cloth, torn clothes, even an old petticoat. “It was uncomfortable, unhygienic, and worst of all, I had no privacy to change,” she recalls. “I would have to wear the same piece all day.”
Even though her family received a toilet under a government scheme, it was never used for sanitation. “Like many others here, we used it to store grain,” she says.
Things started to change when the Jan Mitra Nyas (JMN) team, a local grassroots level organisation supported by CRY – Child Rights and You, started its work in the village. They held regular sessions on life skills, health, and menstrual hygiene, and distributed sanitary pads.
“We made sure our meetings were safe spaces for the adolescent girls,” says a member of the team, “That was a non-negotiable… nothing would have been possible if the girls could speak out their heart, ask questions freely and learn without shame.”
Juhi joined an adolescent collective run by the grassroots level organisation, and slowly began to understand her body and the importance of menstrual hygiene. “I started using pads regularly. It made such a difference. No itching, no infections, no fear.”
Seeing her confidence, her friend Savita (name changed to protect identity) and others followed suit. “We started buying pads from the shop. We even learnt to keep our toilets clean so we could use them properly, during periods,” Savita shares.
What started as a change in one household began to spread across the village. Today, Juhi and her friends run awareness campaigns, going door-to-door and holding sessions with other girls and women.
Their efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. Stories of their work have reached nearby villages, inspiring many more girls to speak up, seek help, and demand their right to safe and dignified periods.
“Menstruation is not a curse,” says Juhi, “It’s just part of our lives. And now we’re not ashamed to talk about it.”
Her journey is proof that when girls have access to knowledge and support, they can lead change—not just in their homes, but across communities.
As Menstrual Hygiene Day is observed all across the country, Juhi’s message is loud and clear: “We’ve lived in silence for too long. It’s time to talk, to act, and to change things—together.”
Sounds like a true changemaker speaking, from the depth of her belief and conviction, doesn’t it? Yes, changemakers like Juhi are crucial in rewriting the narrative around menstruation — one conversation, one household, one village at a time. In communities where periods are still cloaked in shame and silence, her voice is breaking barriers and building bridges of awareness. She shows us that real change doesn’t always begin in the policy spaces; it often starts at the grassroot, with a girl who dares to ask questions and share what she learns. By challenging stigma and sparking dialogues, Juhi is not just advocating for hygiene — she’s reclaiming dignity, agency, and the right for every girl to manage her period without fear or discrimination.
It’s time our girls start by listening to the changemakers like Juhi and be part of change.
Signed,
Associate general Manager
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