Jamshedpur:

Rotary Club of Jamshedpur West (Club No. 16032, District 3250) organised three special awareness sessions on Menstrual Hygiene and Good Touch–Bad Touch for school students, focusing on health, personal hygiene, safety and well-being.

The programmes were conducted at Swami Vivekanand Gurukulam, Dhalbhumgarh and Upgraded Higher Secondary School, Kalimati, with the objective of providing age-appropriate information and creating a safe environment where children could openly discuss matters related to health, hygiene and personal safety.

Session 1: Menstrual Hygiene Awareness

A special session on Menstrual Hygiene was conducted at Swami Vivekanand Gurukulam, Dhalbhumgarh, for 50 students of Classes 5 to 8 and 10 teachers. The session was conducted by Dr. Swati Singhal.

The students were informed that menstruation is a natural biological process. The session covered menstrual hygiene, correct use of sanitary pads, personal cleanliness and the importance of a balanced and nutritious diet. Students were also encouraged to overcome hesitation and misconceptions related to menstruation and to seek appropriate guidance whenever required.

At the conclusion of the session, 30 packets of sanitary napkins and 10 Menstrupedia Comics were distributed among the students.

Session 2: Good Touch–Bad Touch

A Good Touch–Bad Touch awareness session was organised at Swami Vivekanand Gurukulam for 80 students of Classes 1 to 4. The session was conducted by Rotarian Rama Khanna.

Using simple and age-appropriate language, the children were taught to distinguish between safe and unsafe touch. They were encouraged to confidently say “No” when they feel uncomfortable, move away from an unsafe situation and immediately inform a trusted adult.

The session aimed to empower young children with the knowledge and confidence required to protect themselves and seek help when necessary.

Session 3: Menstrual Hygiene Awareness

Another Menstrual Hygiene Awareness session was conducted at Upgraded Higher Secondary School, Kalimati, for 30 adolescent girls, with Dr. Sujata Mitra as the resource person.

The session focused on the physical and emotional changes experienced during adolescence, menstrual hygiene, correct use of sanitary pads, nutrition and maintaining good health. Dr. Sujata Mitra addressed the students' questions and encouraged them to view menstruation as a normal biological process rather than a subject associated with embarrassment or hesitation.

10 Menstrupedia Comics and 30 packets of sanitary napkins were distributed among the girls. Students were also educated about hygienic and safe disposal of sanitary pads.

The programme was attended by Mr. Dhananjay Srivastava, Principal, Mrs. Kanchan Tiwari, Mr. Karandeep, and members of the school community.

The programmes were held under the leadership of Rotarian Gurpreet Kaur, President, Rotary Club of Jamshedpur West. Speaking on the occasion, she said that providing children with the right information at the right age helps them develop into healthy, aware and confident individuals. She added that Rotary Club of Jamshedpur West would continue to undertake meaningful service initiatives focusing on the health, safety and overall development of children and adolescents.

The school authorities appreciated the initiative of Rotary Club of Jamshedpur West and expressed their gratitude to the Club and the resource persons for conducting these informative and impactful sessions.

The programmes reaffirmed Rotary Club of Jamshedpur West's commitment to creating awareness, promoting healthy practices, empowering children and building a safer and healthier future for the younger generation.