Aditya Birla’s Ujaas and Evonik India join hands to deliver menstrual health sessions across Mumbai schools

The initiative will engage over 1,000 students and 40 women from underserved communities, aiming to break taboos, promote hygiene, and drive inclusive awareness through structured MHM sessions

Ujaas, a menstrual health initiative under the Aditya Birla Education Trust, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Evonik India to launch structured awareness programs across select schools in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. The sessions aim to promote menstrual health literacy and hygiene practices among more than 1,000 individuals, including 398 girls, 602 boys, and 40 women from underserved communities.
The MoU was formally signed at VDS Public School, Turbhe, one of the participating institutions in the program. The event was attended by representatives from both organisations including Poonam Patkar, Head of Ujaas; Steffi Fernando, Senior Manager at Ujaas; Vinod Paremal, President and Managing Director, Evonik India Region; Vidya Gopinath, CSR Lead for Evonik India through the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce; and Prerna Sakpal, Senior Manager, Communications, Evonik India.

Titled “Grow Beyond Yourself – MHM Awareness Sessions by Ujaas,” the initiative will be implemented across four schools: Gurukul English High School and Jeevanjyoti International School in Malad, Oxford English High School in Kurla, and VDS Public School in Navi Mumbai. The sessions will include specially curated content for adolescent girls, boys, and mothers, addressing the biological, social, and emotional aspects of menstruation.
The sessions for girls will focus on understanding puberty, the menstrual cycle, period hygiene, sustainable product use, and safe disposal practices. Discussions will also equip them to identify abnormal symptoms and encourage cycle tracking for better health outcomes. For boys, the modules aim to create empathy and understanding, while encouraging supportive behaviour within families, classrooms, and communities. Mothers will be engaged through discussions on PCOD, menopause, and adolescent health.

Insights from the Ujaas Impact Report 2024–2025 highlight the value of such programs. Among adolescent girls who previously attended Ujaas sessions, 98 percent demonstrated a clear understanding of menstruation, and 94 percent could correctly identify menstrual hygiene products. Boys recorded a 47 percent increase in understanding menstruation and 74 percent reported feeling comfortable discussing the topic with female relatives. Additionally, 95 percent of National Service Scheme students recognised menstruation as a natural process, and 86 percent of girls rejected common myths around menstrual blood. Among Anganwadi workers, 96 percent felt confident explaining menstruation, while 94 percent could identify warning signs requiring medical attention.

Under this partnership, Ujaas will lead the delivery of the awareness sessions, while Evonik India will support the initiative through funding and logistical collaboration.
“This partnership reflects the collective will to create safe and inclusive spaces for menstrual education,” said Poonam Patkar, Head of Ujaas. “At Ujaas, we believe menstrual health is not a women’s issue alone. It is a social issue that requires empathy, awareness, and engagement from all sections of society.”
Vinod Paremal, President and Managing Director, Evonik India, added, “At Evonik, we believe that real progress begins with awareness and education. By supporting menstrual health literacy among young students, we aim to help create informed, confident, and compassionate individuals who can shape a more equitable and inclusive future.”

Echoing this sentiment, Gabriele Rettig, Chief Executive Advisor – CSR, Evonik Asia Pacific, said, “Evonik’s CSR philosophy is centered on creating long-term community impact through education and empowerment. Our partnership with Ujaas reflects our belief that menstrual health awareness is a social imperative that drives inclusion, confidence, and equality.”
Since its inception in 2021, Ujaas has conducted more than 17,000 awareness sessions and reached over six lakh individuals across India. The initiative has distributed over 50 lakh sanitary napkins, operated mobile awareness units such as the Menstrual Health Express, and launched women-led, cloth pad manufacturing units, including its flagship facility in Jalna. These efforts support the organisation’s mission to build menstrual health awareness, promote eco-friendly hygiene solutions, and foster grassroots economic empowerment.
Ujaas is guided by the values of the Aditya Birla Education Trust, with a strong focus on breaking menstrual taboos, building informed communities, and driving inclusive change.

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