We don’t talk about periods enough, not at school, not at home, and certainly not in public. The silence around menstruation, and the lack of awareness on menstrual health & hygiene often results in girls missing school, and their learning being impacted. If we want to change that, we have to start with the basics.
Recognising this, Procter & Gamble India (P&G India), the company behind the leading sanitary napkin brand Whisper, has made menstrual health education a part of its long-term social initiatives. As its flagship CSR programme, P&G Shiksha, marks 20 years of community engagement, the company’s focus for Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025 is on building a #PeriodFriendlyWorld, one where girls can thrive, not hide.
A legacy of learning
P&G Shiksha began in 2005 with the aim to bridge the education gap for underprivileged children. What started with a singular focus on education has, over the past two decades, evolved into a nationwide initiative to improve foundational learning outcomes. Today, the program is impacting over 50 lakh children across India, with sustained collaboration from government bodies and education-focused NGOs.
Running parallel to this, Whisper, a leading sanitary-napkin brand by P&G India, has spent decades working on menstrual health education through its education initiatives and large-scale awareness movements like #KeepGirlsInSchool. This is aimed at addressing the social and infrastructural barriers that force many girls to drop out once they reach puberty. In 2024, the initiative shed light on the growing issue of early onset of menstruation in girls as young as 8 years old, a challenge many families and schools are unprepared for. Through its school-based modules and awareness programs, Whisper has reached and educated over 10 crore girls and mothers across India.
A #PeriodFriendlyWorld
This year, Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025 carries the theme- “Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld.” In line with this, Whisper, partnered with P&G Shiksha to commemorate its 20th anniversary, and conducted a menstrual hygiene awareness session for volunteer trainers from Pratham Education Foundation, (a long-standing NGO partner of P&G Shiksha).
These trainers are the key links in a grassroots network that reaches thousands of children. They mentor on-ground Pratham volunteers across states, who in turn work directly with children in rural and underserved communities.
Led by Whisper’s in-house specialists, the session aimed to normalise conversations around menstruation, challenge misinformation, and provide practical knowledge. It covered topics like:
Science behind periods and why they happen?
How to maintain health and comfort during periods
What products are available and how to use them safely
How to move from silence and shame to openness and support
The focus was on mindset shifts. Each trainer went back home equipped with the skills to spark conversations that are often swept under the rug, conversations that can shape how girls experience one of the most defining changes of their adolescence.
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About access and dignity
Let’s be honest; conversations about menstrual hygiene in India are no longer just about pads or biology lessons. They’re also about the right to access clean toilets, safe water, and the ability to stay in school.
Creating a #PeriodFriendlyWorld doesn’t rest on one campaign or one day, it requires a collective effort all through the year. Parents, educators, policymakers and communities, all have a collective role to play. Because if we’re serious about inclusive education, we can’t leave menstruation out of the conversation.
Periods are natural. The taboos, myths, and shame they cause are what’s unnatural.
With continued efforts from such programs and regular conversations ignited by Whisper and P&G Shiksha, the hope for a future -where menstruation doesn’t interrupt education and every girl gets the support she needs, remains very much alive.