Delhi schools open conversation on periods - for boys too

NEW DELHI: Breaking away from the traditional silence around periods, Delhi govt schools will now host menstrual hygiene sessions for both girls and boys. While girls will learn about managing menstruation and receive sanitary pads, boys will undergo sensitisation sessions aimed at busting taboos and building empathy.The initiative, led by Young FICCI Ladies Organisation in partnership with NGO Ujaas, has received clearance from the directorate of education for implementation in two districts during the 2025-26 academic year. In the first phase, the programme aims to reach 18,000 students across classes V to XII. If this target is not met within the two designated districts, the coverage will be expanded to additional districts under phase 2.

To begin with, DoE has approved the allotment of govt girl schools in the two districts. According to the project proposal, the sessions will be tailored for different audiences. For girls, a four-hour awareness module will be spread across two days, covering topics such as puberty, menstruation, period products, myths and stigma, and hygienic practices. Each girl will receive four packets of sanitary napkins with six pads each to help manage her periods in the months following the session.

Boys, meanwhile, will attend separate two-hour sensitisation sessions aimed at encouraging them to view menstruation as a normal biological process and become supportive peers. "The goal is to normalise conversations around menstruation and foster an environment where empathy and awareness replace shame and silence," said the proposal.Teachers, too, will undergo two-hour capacity-building sessions to equip them with accurate information and enable them to address students' queries after the sessions have concluded.Monitoring and evaluation will be conducted through baseline and endline surveys, testimonials, and detailed records of sessions. Quarterly progress reports will be submitted to govt. DoE will be responsible for allocating schools and setting up a quarterly review mechanism.However, DoE's permission comes with several strict conditions. The sessions must not disrupt school functioning or compromise students' privacy, and no personal data is to be collected or shared. All branding, advertisements, celebrity endorsements and media publication of the project's findings, including social media posts featuring students, have been prohibited.