The problem
Before #PeriodPaath, menstruation in India was defined by silence. Cultural taboos meant that menstrual health was shrouded in secrecy — perpetuating harmful myths and leaving millions of young people without accurate information, affordable products, or institutional support.
No formal menstrual hygiene management policy existed at the national level. Businesses were not cognisant of the need for menstrual leave. And the work being done on menstrual health had few specialised, youth-led organisations behind it.
What YKA did
India's largest youth survey on menstrual health
A bilingual survey with over 11,000 respondents in September 2019 mapped perceptions, attitudes and awareness on menstrual health across 20 states. The data was covered by Times of India and Outlook, and directly shaped the campaign's messaging. Findings were submitted to the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
The Action Network Fellowship
YKA trained over 150 young social entrepreneurs from 55+ cities across 21 states to run community-based behaviour change campaigns on menstrual health. 16 of 52 fellows received INR 50K seed grants. 10 went on to start their own organisations.
Writers' training and storytelling
53 writers were selected from 284 applications and trained to write about the intersections of menstruation and social justice. Over 500 stories were published, garnering 1M+ unique readers and 10M+ social media reach.
What changed
Survey findings submitted to the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, directly informing India's draft menstrual hygiene policy — one of the first times youth-led research shaped a national health policy document.
10+ Action Network fellows scaled their work into standalone organisations or merged with larger nonprofits.
Three years on: companies like Swiggy and Zomato announced period leave policies, the Sikkim High Court introduced menstrual leave, and rural uptake of sanitary pads rose to 45%.
Notable fellows
Chandarprabha Sharma
Planet Friendly Periods, Ayodhya
Led Ayodhya's first citizen-led menstrual waste campaign. Installation of menstrual waste incinerators. Went on to become an IAS officer.
Trisha Mishra
#ProjectMasikMantra
Secured free sanitary napkins for Sonagachi's sex workers — 5,000 pads earmarked for distribution through targeted advocacy.
