Ujaas, an initiative of the Aditya Birla Education Trust founded by Advaitesha Birla, partnered with Central Railway Mumbai to commemorate World Menstrual Hygiene Day 2026.
The partnership illuminated the heritage building of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in red to signal that menstrual hygiene management is a right, not a privilege.
Interactive public‑engagement activities were staged: “Trash Out the Myths” (identifying and challenging misconceptions), “Period Pulse” (platform for commuters to exchange perspectives on menstrual hygiene), and “Period Rights Map” (inviting support for dignity, awareness, accessibility, and inclusivity across schools, workplaces, public spaces, and communities).
The initiative aligns with the Supreme Court’s recognition that menstrual health and hygiene are intrinsically linked to fundamental rights of dignity, equality, education, and health under Articles 14, 15, and 21 of the Constitution.
National data cited: nearly one‑in‑four young women in India still lack access to hygienic menstrual products; school absenteeism during menstruation can reach close to 38 percent.
Ujaas reports having impacted over 1.2 million beneficiaries and distributed more than 4.8 million menstrual hygiene products across India.
Programme assessments indicate measurable behavioural change: a 48 percentage‑point increase in rejection of menstrual myths among girls, a 38 percentage‑point improvement in menstrual health awareness, and a 44 percentage‑point rise in puberty awareness among boys.
Quote from Ms Advaitesha Birla, Founder, Ujaas: “For many girls and women, menstruation still impacts confidence, mobility and everyday participation due to the silence and misinformation surrounding it… Real change requires more than awareness alone — it calls for supportive ecosystems and open conversations across schools, communities, families and public institutions.”
Quote from Dr Swapnil Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer, Central Railway: “As one of the country’s largest public service networks, carrying millions of people every day, Indian Railways believes that public institutions and public spaces can play an important role in driving social awareness and inclusion.”
