In a landmark step towards strengthening girls’ education, adolescent health, and gender-sensitive schooling, the Punjab Government under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has launched one of India’s largest school-based menstrual health education initiatives for adolescent girls studying in government schools across the state. On the occasion of Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28, the government announced the phased statewide expansion of the Menstrual Hygiene Curriculum across government high and senior secondary schools in all 23 districts of Punjab. The first session of the curriculum was conducted across schools on May 29, and the initiative is expected to directly benefit more than 3.4 lakh girl students from Classes VI to X studying in over 3,600 government schools.
A Step Towards Inclusive and Empowering Education
The initiative reflects the Bhagwant Mann Government’s growing focus on creating a modern and inclusive public education system where girls are empowered with awareness, confidence, dignity, and access to accurate health information. By introducing menstrual health education at such a large scale, the Punjab Government has sought to address an issue that has traditionally remained surrounded by silence, hesitation, myths, and social stigma. Officials said the programme is designed to ensure that menstruation never becomes a barrier to girls’ education, confidence, participation, or wellbeing in school life. The initiative also aligns with the spirit of the Supreme Court of India’s observations recognising menstrual health and hygiene as being directly linked to dignity, education, and equality for adolescent girls.
Partnership with WASH United Brings Structured Curriculum to Schools
The programme has been launched in collaboration with WASH United, an international non-profit organisation working globally on menstrual health education and awareness. Under the initiative, specially designed classroom sessions are being conducted through a structured Menstrual Hygiene Curriculum developed in Punjabi, enabling students to connect with the content in a relatable and comfortable manner. The sessions are built around interactive storytelling featuring Ruby, a 10-year-old girl, and are supported by guided classroom discussions and participatory learning activities that make the subject engaging, safe, and easy to understand. The curriculum focuses on helping students understand menstruation and bodily changes, adopt healthy hygiene and self-care practices, build confidence and self-esteem, and create supportive peer and school environments.
Massive Teacher Training Drive Ensures Effective Implementation
To ensure smooth and effective implementation across Punjab, approximately 7,200 teachers have already been trained to facilitate the sessions sensitively and confidently. The programme follows a structured three-session intervention model that combines story-based learning with age-appropriate menstrual health education. Before the statewide launch, the government conducted extensive teacher preparation exercises. Around 100 State Resource Persons were first trained as Master Trainers, who then conducted cascade training programmes across districts to prepare teachers from thousands of government schools. Officials said this large-scale capacity-building effort would help create safe classroom environments where girls can openly ask questions and receive accurate information without embarrassment or fear.
Pilot Programme Showed Strong Results Across Punjab
The statewide expansion has been based on encouraging results from an earlier pilot programme conducted in more than 100 government schools across all 23 districts of Punjab, involving over 45,000 students. According to findings shared by the Punjab Government, 97 percent of teachers participating in the pilot reported feeling confident delivering menstrual health education through the new curriculum, while 94 percent recommended that the programme be expanded across the state. Around 88 percent of teachers found the curriculum easier and more effective than previous approaches, and 80 percent observed active student participation during classroom sessions. These results demonstrated both the relevance and effectiveness of the programme in addressing menstrual health awareness among adolescent girls.
Teachers Highlight Positive Change in Classroom Conversations
Teachers associated with the pilot programme said the curriculum helped girls discuss menstruation openly and confidently while challenging long-standing social taboos. Jaspreet Kaur, a teacher from Faridkot, said the Menstrual Hygiene Curriculum effectively breaks menstrual taboos by creating safe spaces where girls can ask questions and share experiences. She described the interactive use of stories, games, and visuals as a transformative approach that promotes dignity and inclusion. Monika Sood, a teacher from Amritsar, said students enthusiastically participated in the sessions and openly discussed how menstruation is often treated within families and communities. She noted that greater awareness and proper guidance can help adolescent girls better understand their bodies and maintain their health with confidence and dignity. Teachers also observed that conversations around menstruation became increasingly normal and comfortable within classrooms. Silvi, a teacher from Moga, said even those who were initially hesitant to speak about periods gradually became confident enough to discuss the topic openly.
Students Say Sessions Boosted Confidence and Awareness
Students who participated in the programme also shared positive feedback. Komal Preet Kaur, a Class IX student from Sangrur, said the sessions increased her confidence and helped her understand that menstruation is a normal biological process rather than a disease. Another student, Dimple Rani from Moga, described the sessions as highly engaging and said she discussed everything she learned with her mother at home. Tanisha, a Class X student, said the curriculum created an environment where girls felt represented and comfortable enough to speak freely without shame or hesitation. Their feedback suggests that the programme is helping young girls overcome misconceptions while encouraging open and informed discussions about menstrual health.
Strengthening Student Wellbeing Through Education Reform
Officials stated that the initiative is not only strengthening menstrual health awareness but is also contributing to the creation of a more compassionate, progressive, and supportive education system for adolescent girls. By institutionalising menstrual health education within government schools, the Punjab Government is taking a significant step towards improving student wellbeing, increasing girls’ participation in education, and nurturing a more informed and empowered generation of young women across the state. The initiative is also being viewed as part of the broader transformation of Punjab’s public education system under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, which has focused on improving school infrastructure, strengthening teacher training, promoting student wellbeing, and introducing modern learning practices across government schools.
