UP Trains Master Trainers In All 75 Districts To Promote Menstrual Health Awareness In Schools

Lucknow, August 13: The Yogi Government of Uttar Pradesh is taking significant steps to ensure that girls' education remains uninterrupted despite biological factors, and schools become secure, respectful, and understanding spaces for them. As part of this effort, master trainers are being prepared across all 75 districts to improve teachers' awareness and sensitivity towards menstrual health and hygiene.

A two-day state-level orientation program commenced on August 13, training 111 participants from 37 districts as master trainers. The remaining 112 participants from other districts are scheduled to undergo orientation on August 14, making a total of 223 participants. This initiative aligns with the Dr. Jaya Thakur vs Union of India and Others case, emphasizing that menstrual health should encompass safe toilets, water, soap, proper disposal systems, privacy, awareness, and a supportive environment, beyond merely providing sanitary pads.

The training material underscores various aspects of menstrual health, emphasizing girls' dignity, education, and constitutional rights. It highlights that menstrual health is linked to the right to live with dignity and stresses the state and educational institutions' responsibility to ensure safe and dignified menstrual management.

The program covers essential facilities, including functional toilets, water, soap, safe disposal mechanisms, and privacy, ensuring no girl's education is adversely affected due to menstruation.

Under the program, three nominated participants from each district are trained as master trainers. They will return to their districts to provide online training to male and female teachers in all schools, enabling the training material and understanding to reach every school and teacher directly. Teachers will learn about menstrual health, girls' dignity and privacy, sensitive behavior, essential facilities, and creating a supportive school environment.

The training material stresses that supporting girls without shame or discrimination, explaining menstruation as a normal biological process, and providing assistance when needed are crucial. It clarifies that menstrual hygiene extends beyond sanitary pads, emphasizing functional toilets, water, soap, safe disposal systems, privacy, and emergency support.

The objective is to eliminate myths, hesitation, and discrimination surrounding menstruation, sensitizing teachers to boost girls' confidence and reduce unnecessary absenteeism linked to menstruation.

The Yogi Government's initiative aims not only at training but also at making school systems more sensitive and responsive, ensuring girls receive necessary support, a safe environment, and accurate information through teachers. Master trainers will play a pivotal role in carrying out this state-level initiative to schools across the state.

As Minister of State (Independent Charge), Basic Education, Uttar Pradesh, Sandeep Singh emphasized, "Any issue related to the education and dignity of girls should reach schools with sensitivity. Our effort is to ensure that every teacher receives the necessary information and training so that a safe, respectful, and supportive environment can be created for girls in schools."