From Lizette Burgers, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), New Delhi

Posted 24 March 2008

Dear Members,

The Government of India launched the Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC), a comprehensive national program to ensure sanitation facilities in rural areas, in 1999. Despite a rapid increase in sanitation coverage, the agenda of achieving total sanitation remains incomplete without addressing the sanitation needs of women specially related to Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM). This is rights based issue of women accessing clean hygienic methods for healthy living with dignity. The issue stems from lack of access to information and affordability.

Providing environmentally-safe sanitation to millions of people is a significant challenge, especially in the world’s second most populated country. The task is doubly difficult in a country where the introduction of new technologies can challenge people’s traditions and beliefs.

“Sustaining the Sanitation Revolution-India Country Paper” has been presented and published by the Department of Drinking Water Supply, Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) for SACOSAN-III in 16-21 November 2008, paper is divided into two parts – rural and urban sanitation however, in both rural and urban spheres, it highlights the promising initiatives are underway to tackle the sanitation challenge in India.

“Toilets and More” published by the Department of Drinking Water Supply, Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) in SACOSAN-III November 2008, is a manual about the dissemination in all countries for achieving the common goal of new standards of hygiene, health and empowerment for the people of South Asian Region.  

“41% of women unprepared for menstruation", article written by Maria Fernandes, Indira Khurana and Richard Mahapatra and have been made available on the website of InfoChange News & features, November 2008, is a new study reveals that 41% of women respondents were not psychologically prepared for menstruation.

With the subject heading “Re: Query: Developing Learning Material on WaSH for School Children –Experiences; Examples” compiled by Nitya Jacob, Ramya Gopalan and Sudakshina Malik in 19 June 2008 and published by Solution Exchange for the Water Community and Education Community in India, United Nations, is a complimenting efforts by the Centre for Environment Education (CEE) to create a workbook and activity manual on school sanitation and hygiene, members felt it is a welcome and timely initiative.

“Sharing simple facts”, which have been developed and published in 2008 by the Department of Drinking Water Supply, Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) with support from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). This booklet on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) is intended for adolescent girls and young women. It looks at useful information about menstrual health and hygiene.