“Meri Urja, Meri Pehchaan — Har Naari ka Swabhimaan”
My Energy, My Identity — Every Woman’s Pride
In many parts of India, menstruation remains a subject wrapped in silence, taboo, and misinformation. This cultural discomfort, especially prevalent in rural and tribal communities, prevents millions of women and girls from accessing safe menstrual products or understanding the basics of hygiene and reproductive health. The consequences are serious: infections, school dropouts, social exclusion, and lifelong shame.
The URJA Menstrual Care Campaign, launched by WCSF CharitySpirit Foundation, is a groundbreaking initiative that directly challenges these barriers and brings dignity, awareness, and empowerment to the forefront of menstrual health. It is not just about providing sanitary pads—it is about transforming how society sees menstruation and ensuring every woman feels respected, informed, and independent.
At its heart, URJA is a movement. A movement that educates women and girls about menstrual hygiene, makes eco-friendly and plastic-free sanitary pads widely accessible, and simultaneously generates employment and self-reliance among grassroots women. From awareness drives in remote villages to livelihood creation through micro-production units, URJA is reshaping both mindsets and markets.
The campaign has reached over 200 panchayats across Jharkhand, where trained “Panchayat Mahila Mitras” lead awareness sessions, workshops, and pad distribution efforts. These rural menstrual leaders are more than educators—they are agents of change who shatter stigmas and inspire pride in womanhood. Over 200 women are now employed through the campaign in roles such as production, assembly, distribution, training, and outreach—earning between ₹200 to ₹500 per day, while supporting their families and communities.
The URJA sanitary pads are a product of care and innovation. Made from 100% organic cotton, these biodegradable pads are soft, rash-free, odorless, and safe for the environment. With an advanced 8-layer protection system, including anion chips and air-laid paper, the pads help maintain pH balance and support overall menstrual wellness. This makes them suitable for both day and night use while addressing hormonal concerns such as blood pressure, thyroid, and sugar regulation.
One of URJA’s most celebrated arms is the “Swachhta Pathshala”, a school-based educational program designed to break the silence on menstruation among adolescent girls. Conducted in local schools by trained rural women leaders, these sessions use age-appropriate language, interactive games, Q&A, videos, and real-life examples to teach girls about menstruation, hygiene, and self-care. Beyond theory, girls receive hygiene kits, booklets, and emotional support—creating a safe space where curiosity is welcome and confidence is cultivated.
The campaign also recognizes that menstrual care is tied to broader aspects of dignity. In addition to pad distribution, URJA organizes comprehensive aid programs that provide hygiene kits, nutritious food, and clothing to underprivileged women and girls. The hygiene kits include sanitary pads, undergarments, wipes, and informative booklets. Nutrition kits contain iron-rich grains, dry fruits, and essential rations to address issues like anemia and malnutrition, especially among adolescent girls. Clothing distributions further ensure that every woman has access to clean, dignified attire, including seasonal garments, innerwear, and school uniforms.
The URJA campaign operates on a social sales model that blends sustainability with empowerment. While pads are distributed freely to those in extreme need—such as girls in tribal regions, widows, abandoned women, or slum dwellers—they are also made available for purchase at affordable rates. This ensures income for women distributors and establishes a sense of value and self-respect among users. Proceeds are transparently reinvested into the community: funding free health camps, Swachhta Pathshala sessions, and nutritional or educational outreach.
What sets URJA apart is its belief in dignity, not dependency. Every sanitary pad, every hygiene kit, every hot meal is offered not as charity, but as a tool of empowerment. The campaign affirms that menstrual care is a basic right—essential to physical health, mental well-being, and gender equity.
Today, URJA is active across Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Maharashtra, with a direct impact on more than 100,000 adolescent girls and women. Over 500 schools have embraced Swachhta Pathshala, where teachers now champion menstrual health and ensure that no girl misses school because of her period.
At its core, the URJA Menstrual Care Campaign is about rewriting the narrative around menstruation—from one of shame to one of strength. It is about enabling every girl to walk into her future with confidence, dignity, and the knowledge that her period is not a burden—but a symbol of her energy, her identity, and her pride.
“With every pad, we don’t just protect a girl—we empower a generation.”