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Adolescent Health & SRHR
From Stigma to State Honor: Zarina Crusade for Menstrual Dignity
Zarina Khatoon · Volunteer & Community Leader, Uska Bazar
Field initiative documentation · Volunteer & Community Leader, Uska BazarView Official Article
“Dignity is every girl birthright. When we educate one daughter about her health, an entire household is liberated from fear.”— Zarina Khatoon
The Context & Challenge
In rural Siddharthnagar, open discussions around menstruation were historically silenced by fear and shame. Girls frequently dropped out of school or suffered debilitating reproductive infections due to unsafe unhygienic practices.
Swabhiman Samiti's Intervention
Zarina joined Swabhiman Samiti as a grassroots volunteer, leading door-to-door counseling sessions, establishing village sanitary banks, and confronting community elders to break the silence.
Measurable Transformation & Outcome
In July 2024, Zarina Khatoon was formally felicitated by District Development Officer (DDO) J.P. Kushwaha under the Piramal Foundation Meri Kahani Meri Zubani program and appointed as the official Menstrual Hygiene Brand Ambassador.
