Distribution of Kishoree pads free to the girls and women has been an important component of the activities of the foundation. There have been numerous such camps which have been organized and it is a continuous and ongoing activity. Initially such camps were organized in and around the village of Kesaria block in Bihar, where the manufacturing facility is situated. Subsequently, such camps have been organized in Kolkata, especially in slum and poor areas and it has now become a regular part of our activity in Kolkata. Free distribution camps are being organized in and around Ranchi too. In all such camps, the attempts have been to reach the poorest of the poor group and make it a targeted activity so that we can maximize on our efforts.
In Kolkata, the foundation has an active group of volunteer college girls and they take responsibly for organizing such camps. During these camps, which lasts few hours, the participants are also made aware about various issue related with menstrual hygiene and women health. Although for a short duration, the focus is also on discussion and raising awareness among girls and women while giving them fee Kishoree pads. Like the two-day workshop module, in these free distribution camps, the foundation often also provides snacks to the participants, as it has been experienced that such eatable works as an attraction for the poor girls.
A targeted long-term free distribution and behaviour change and communication (BCC) approach has also been taken up in Kolkata, where 10 to 15 girls are selected from a particular disadvantaged locality, and the same group of girls are approached every month for six months, and are provide not only with free Kishoree pads for their use, but also monitored and coached over this period about menstrual hygiene issues, with the aim of inculcating the habit of using sanitary pads and raising their awareness level. It is also hoped that this approach will convert these girls in to change agents, who would then be instrumental in bringing about similar awareness and change in other girls of their community and network. The results of such an approach have been quite encouraging. The foundation has also supplied Kishoree pads to some other NGOs in Bihar and Jharkhand, who are engaged in various kind of charitable activities and as part of these activities, they have also distributed pads to their beneficiaries. As of now, the foundation supplies these pads to other parties at our cost price.
Further, help of motivated and educated women of the village, of local community, of ASHA and Anganwadi workers, of local school female teachers has been mobilized for this purpose. Local school girls are being encouraged to volunteer in the production unit, where they not only learn and see for themselves as to how the sanitary pads are being made, but in the process, they also become confident and aware of the importance of menstrual hygiene issues and thus act as our change agent.
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