How girls in Lakhimpur Kheri won their right to menstrual hygiene

In a remote village of Lakhimpur in Uttar Pradesh, adolescent girls faced a silent barrier to education due to poor menstrual hygiene. With little access to sanitary products, many girls missed school for long stretches every month, jeopardising their learning and future opportunities.

Pratima, a 16-year-old student, was one of them. As part of the Adolescent Collective, supported by CRY UK’s Project AIM, she found the courage to take a stand. Speaking not just for herself but for every girl in her community, she poured out her concerns to CRY’s project team. The team not only listened but also reassured the girls that their struggle was valid and could be addressed. They counselled Pratima and her peers on the importance of menstrual hygiene, while also showing them how to access free sanitary pads through the local health system. The girls learned how to submit formal applications to the local Community Health Centre (CHC) and the Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) workers, demanding access to free sanitary pads for themselves and others.

But the journey didn’t stop there. With the project team’s guidance, the girls raised their concerns at higher levels, even petitioning the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. Their persistence paid off as the authorities launched a free sanitary pad distribution programme, ensuring long-term access for every girl in the community.

Today, Pratima goes to school regularly with dignity and confidence. She and her friends are no longer just beneficiaries but advocates of change, raising awareness about menstrual hygiene and inspiring others in their school and community to speak up.

With your support, CRY UK not only empowers beneficiaries but also builds stronger communities, where change spreads through united voices and actions.

Donate to CRY UK to stand up for girls’ education, rights, and dignity in Lakhimpur and beyond.