Patna: In a bid to strengthen adolescent health and sanitation awareness among schoolgirls, the Bihar government, in collaboration with UNICEF, on Wednesday launched a statewide orientation campaign on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) for wardens of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs).
The initiative, organised during Menstrual Hygiene Week ahead of Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28, aims to create safer and more supportive residential school environments for adolescent girls across Bihar.
Addressing the inaugural workshop in Patna, Bihar Education Project Council (BEPC) State Project Director Naveen Kumar said menstrual hygiene was closely linked to girls’ education, dignity and future. He noted that lack of awareness and support often leads to school dropouts and increases the risk of early marriage.
Kumar said nearly 75,000 girls studying in KGBVs across Bihar would directly benefit from the initiative being implemented with UNICEF support.
UNICEF Bihar Chief of Field Office Monika Neilsen highlighted that stigma, inadequate awareness and poor sanitation facilities continue to affect adolescent girls’ education and well-being in the state. She stressed the importance of strengthening WASH systems in residential schools and empowering wardens to support girls confidently and safely during menstruation.
Officials said the programme would cover all 647 KGBVs in Bihar through a series of region-wise workshops involving wardens and education officials. The sessions focus on menstrual hygiene management, adolescent health, psychosocial support, sanitation infrastructure and safe hygiene practices.
The first workshop was held in Patna for participants from Patna, Nalanda, Jehanabad, Gaya, Nawada and Vaishali districts, while subsequent sessions are scheduled in Sasaram, Munger, Purnia, Muzaffarpur and East Champaran.
The workshops also included technical sessions on menstruation physiology, myths and taboos, sustainable menstrual products and safe disposal methods, along with counselling techniques for supporting adolescent girls in hostels and schools.
An awareness film titled “Khilti Kaliyan” was screened during the programme to encourage open conversations around menstrual health and challenge social stigma associated with menstruation.
