During my 20-day Community Immersion in Gram Panchayat Gondbahal, I tackled a neglected issue of menstrual hygiene through a Public System Project. Key stakeholders, including PRI members, CHO, ANM, and Mitanin, collaborated to develop a comprehensive plan, with guidance from District CEO Sir and BMO Madam. Community visits revealed concerning menstrual hygiene practices. Women and girls often resorted to unsafe menstrual practices. Clay, leaves, and unclean cloth were common alternatives to sanitary pads. Even when pads were available, girls were limited by a lack of knowledge on proper hygiene and changing frequency. This experience underscored the urgent need of comprehensive menstrual health awareness. The first phase of the initiative focused on menstrual hygiene in middle to high secondary schools, with workshops highlighting its importance. The second phase extended to the community, targeting women aged 18 to 45, with Anganwadi-level workshops. The third phase culminated in a comprehensive Gram Panchayat-level workshop, involving various stakeholders. A WhatsApp group was established for continuous monitoring. Health and menstrual hygiene sessions are now a regular feature in schools and monthly VHSND addresses menstrual health in the community.
The experience of being closely with people has been immensely valuable to me. I have been able to understand the impact of government schemes like Ladli Lakshmi Yojana to Pension, and missions like SBM, JJM, SSM on people's lives. This experience has helped me to gained insight into the kind of challenges people face in their daily lives and the various ways in which the government can help to alleviate these problems. I also had the opportunity to learn about the daily lives of the villagers. In Community Immersion, I don’t live in the community as a guest. So, I had the chance to try my hand at various farming activities like planting, harvesting, livestock caring, etc. I worked a whole day, I got a ₹200 as a wage. If one is a labourer, he/she is supposed to work a full day for watching a movie. so it helped me to understand the value of basic things and how to appreciate small happiness and how to live a life with very few materialistic things. It was enriching me a better understanding about life. The villagers were always willing to help and answer any questions I had about their way of life. I felt like I was part of the community, and it was a wonderful feeling. I observed the different roles played by the villagers in the community, each member of the village had a unique role to carry out in the village. I was amazed by how everyone worked together in harmony and with such dedication. The days passed quickly with each one bringing a new experience.
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