IIT-M Launches ‘UnMute’ Campaign On Menstrual Hygiene Management
Chennai, Dec 27: Students of the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) have launched a social campaign ‘UnMute’ focused on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) and self-defence against sexual harassment.
Through this initiative, the students aim to help women speak up on these issues and also conduct awareness campaigns. Being taken up as part of annual tech festival ‘Shaastra-2022’, the students have partnered with NGOs such as Chudar, Go-Hygiene, CRY, Sakhya and Swayam to conduct programs like pad distribution drive in Bengaluru, online session on gender inequality and impact on people’s lives, MHM awareness sessions for school-going girls.
Dr. Ratna Kumar Annabattula, Faculty Advisor, Shaastra 2022, IIT-M said “this year the team has put tremendous efforts to execute UnMute, that primarily associates with menstrual hygiene management and self-defense for women. Having collaborated with various NGOs, the students hope to create a long-lasting impact by helping women to pursue a confident life.”
Each year, about 23 million girls drop out of school in India as soon as they start menstruating, according to a report by youthkiawaaz. Also, 62 per cent of women in the age group of 15-24 years still rely on cloth during periods. The students also intend to inform girls about how MHM can be followed and give them the tools they need to do this as well, a release from IIT-M said today.
