Karchi Mahila Mandal Dal Steps Into a Conversation on Menstrual Hygiene and Sustainable Ways to Reduce Sanitary Waste

Talking about periods is still not easy. It’s private, hushed, and often brushed aside.

Which is why what happened on August 31st at our Karchi campus felt so important — and why it fits so closely with our Green Trail initiative. At Indiahikes, we don’t just focus on treks; we consciously try to create conversations and actions that leave a positive impact on people and the planet.

For the first time, 22 women from the Mahila Mandal Dal came together for a session on menstrual hygiene and how to reduce sanitary waste.

It was led by our Trek Leaders, Vidya and Srijita, along with our local guide Aditi. The Pradhan was there too, as well as the Mahila Mandal Dal Adhyaksh.

We began with the basics. What are periods? Why do they happen? Why are they linked to good health?

Simple questions. But important questions.

Once the ice broke, the conversation flowed. How do we stay clean? How do we prevent infections? How do we deal with discomfort? These were the questions they really wanted answers to. And the discussion helped.

Because it was only women in the room, there was trust. And with trust, stories started to pour out.

They spoke about struggles they usually keep to themselves. Health issues, personal challenges, and things they rarely get to say out loud.

From there, the discussion widened. We spoke about sanitary waste. What happens to all the pads that get thrown away each month?

This is where we brought up cloth pads. The women immediately understood the idea.

Cloth pads meant less waste piling up in their homes and across the village. And since they can be used for months at a time, they’re also easier on the pocket.

During the conversation, Eco Femme's example was also shared. They help women to shift to cloth pads, and guide them to make and sell these pads locally. If the women chose to take this up, it could become a small source of income, while also introducing a sustainable option into their own community.

By the end of the session, many of them made a promise — they would switch to cloth pads.

There was another important conversation too. We spoke about menopause. Most women admitted they had never fully understood what happens during this stage of life.

They went back not just with answers, but with the awareness to talk about it openly among themselves.

For us, the biggest takeaway was this — when women are given a safe space, they don’t hold back. They talk. And when they talk, change begins.

From the outside, it may look like a small step. But for the women who came that day, it was much more — a step into awareness, openness, and the possibility of change.

This is Indiahikes’ effort — steering conversations around menstrual hygiene, showing how it can be approached sustainably, and linking it to our Green Trail initiative, where every action is conscious, intentional, and mindful of people and the planet.

Of course, there is a long way to go. Change doesn’t happen in one session. It needs continuous revisits and interventions.

Our Indiahikes team on the ground is ready for this. This is only the beginning. And just like every trek we do, this is a step taken consciously, with care for the community and the environment — the kind of change that matters.