Programme to distribute menstrual cups inaugurated in Chennai

Pilot programme launched to provide menstrual cups to 1,500 women in 12 localities in South Chennai. HLL Lifecare's CSR initiative ennVee Solutions provides M cups. Thinkal project implemented by HLL Management Academy. Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner & Mayor support scheme. Training & awareness key to success. Scheme to be reviewed after 3 months & expanded across State. Monsoon preparedness measures in place.

A pilot programme to provide menstrual cups to women was launched here on Thursday. Under the project named “Thinkal”, around 1,500 women in the reproductive age group from economically poor households in 12 localities under the Greater Chennai Corporation’s wards in South Chennai will receive menstrual cups in the next three months.

Durga Stalin, wife of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, launched the project and distributed menstrual cups to 15 beneficiaries at a function in the city. The ups are provided by ennVee Solutions, a corporate social responsibility initiative of HLL Lifecare.

The Thinkal project will be implemented by HLL Management Academy, the academic and social development division of HLL. The project was launched in Kerala in 2018 and has since been taken to Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Telangana and Karnataka, said Anitha Thampi, director, technical and operations, HLL Lifecare.

Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner J. Radhakrishnan said the civic body had been an incubator for novel schemes, be it polio eradication drive or administration of Hepatitis B vaccine. He explained that the distribution of m-cups should not be considered an expense as during calamities people’s main demand was sanitary napkins.

Mayor R. Priya said: “It is a much-needed requirement for women. It is recyclable and its use has no side effects. As a Mayor, I can tell that the disposal of used napkins is a challenge. We hope that the scheme will spread to other districts as well.” 

Veera Venugopal, enVee president, said it was important to have better training that is a key to the success in use and called for support from health agencies to spread awareness about menstrual hygiene. In the U.K. and the U.S., children are educated on hygiene and health, which is needed in India as well.