Awareness programme on Sustainable Menstruation

On June 07, 2023, the Department of Education University of Ladakh, Leh Campus, organized an awareness programme on Sustainable Menstruation. The programme aims to aware students of the zero waste of feminine products and to encourage students to use bio-degradable pads, reusable cloth pads and menstrual cups during periods. The event was conducted by guest speakers Ms Aparajita Goswami, founder and president, of Zero Waste Ladakh and Ms Delnaaz Irani, volunteer of Zero Waste Ladakh and they were accompanied by Mr Mipham Jigmet, founding member of Zero Waste Ladakh and Ms Tashi Dolker, volunteer Zero Waste Period. Faculties and students of the Leh campus had attended the programmed. The programme was started by welcoming the guest speakers by Dr Rigzin Diskit, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics with traditional Khataks. The first speaker Ms Aparajita talked about the issues related to periods and the anatomy of the female body. She also mentioned that there is no proper waste management in Ladakh. She further discussed in detail the process of mensuration. She also mentioned that women can discharge a maximum of 30-60 ml of blood during periods. She further discussed the various one -time use pads available in the market and she mentioned that a one- time use pad is equal to 4 plastic bags and has so many chemicals present in them and the various side effects of a one-time use of pads on the environment. She also showed a short video about the segregation of waste in Bombgard in Leh and the situations of the workers who worked there. Lastly, she discussed the various sustainable menstrual methods. The second speaker Ms Delnaaz talked about menstrual cups. She mentioned the benefits of using menstrual cups. Later she also demonstrates how to use the menstrual cups. In the end, they stressed the use of menstrual cups during periods and avoiding the one-time use of pads. The session ended with a vote of thanks given by Dr. Chimet Lhadol, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science.