Patna: The Bihar Education Project Council (BEPC), Government of Bihar, 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 campaign is being organised from May 25 to 29 during Menstrual Hygiene Week ahead of Menstrual Hygiene Day observed globally on May 28. Officials said the initiative aims to create safer and more supportive residential school environments for adolescent girls across Bihar.
Focus on Girls’ Education and Dignity
Addressing the programme, Naveen Kumar, State Project Director of BEPC, said menstrual hygiene is closely linked to girls’ education, dignity and long-term well-being.
He said a lack of awareness and support often forces girls to discontinue education, increasing the risk of early marriage. Stressing the role of KGBV wardens, he said they must help girls overcome hesitation, provide accurate information and ensure a supportive environment within residential schools.
According to officials, nearly 75,000 girls studying in KGBVs across Bihar are expected to benefit directly from the initiative being implemented with UNICEF’s support.
UNICEF Highlights Continuing Challenges
Monika Neilsen, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Bihar, said that despite improvements in awareness, menstrual hygiene challenges remain significant in Bihar.
She said stigma, lack of information and inadequate WASH facilities continue to affect adolescent girls’ education and overall well-being. Highlighting the importance of strengthening sanitation systems in KGBVs, she said wardens play a key role in helping girls manage menstruation safely and confidently.
Bhola Prasad Singh, Civil Works Manager at BEPC, welcomed UNICEF’s collaboration and said the programme seeks to strengthen WASH and sanitation-related activities in KGBVs at the grassroots level.
Workshops Across Six Regions
Officials said the initiative will cover all 647 KGBVs functioning in Bihar through a series of region-wise orientation workshops involving wardens and education officials.
The first workshop was organised in Patna on May 27 for participants from Patna, Nalanda, Jehanabad, Gaya, Nawada and Vaishali districts.
Subsequent workshops are scheduled in Sasaram on June 2, Munger on June 4, Purnia on June 9, Muzaffarpur on June 11 and East Champaran on June 13.
The workshops include technical sessions on menstruation physiology, WASH infrastructure in schools and hostels, myths and taboos related to menstruation, sustainable menstrual absorbents and safe disposal systems.
Experts also trained wardens on counselling methods and practical strategies to support adolescent girls in residential schools.
Awareness Film Screened
As part of the programme, participants were shown the awareness film Khilti Kaliyan, aimed at encouraging open discussions around menstrual health and challenging social taboos linked to menstruation.
UNICEF officials reiterated their commitment to supporting the Bihar government in promoting menstrual hygiene awareness and improving WASH systems in schools to ensure a healthy and dignified environment for adolescent girls across the state.
