A girl's future should never be determined by a natural biological process. Yet across many parts of India, menstruation is still surrounded by silence, stigma, misinformation and inequality. For countless adolescent girls and women, a lack of menstrual hygiene awareness, limited access to sanitary products and harmful social taboos lead to missed school days, health complications, loss of confidence and social exclusion.

The inspiration for Project Lajja came from witnessing these realities firsthand. During community interactions and field visits, the Making The Difference team met girls forced to miss classes during their cycle, women who lacked access to basic hygiene products, and communities where menstruation was treated as something to be hidden rather than understood. In tribal regions, we encountered menstruating women isolated in makeshift structures by age-old customs — a stark reminder that menstrual health is not only a health issue, but one of dignity, education, equality and human rights.

In response, Making The Difference launched Project Lajja to create a future where no girl is held back because of her period. Through menstrual hygiene awareness sessions, reusable menstrual kits and sustained community engagement, the initiative empowers girls and women with knowledge, confidence and access to safe, sustainable menstrual health solutions.

To date, Project Lajja has reached 29,108 girls with menstrual hygiene education across 195 schools in 5 states. And by replacing disposable pads with reusable kits, the programme has kept over 31 lakh disposable pads out of landfills and saved an estimated 1,07,800 kg of CO₂ — proof that restoring dignity and caring for the planet can go hand in hand.