ImpactLens brings you the story of Sanisafe — a project that goes beyond menstrual hygiene to spark a quiet revolution in rural India. In the heart of Chitegaon, what began as a health intervention has grown into a powerful movement for social justice, gender equity, and women’s empowerment. With steadfast support from CIE India, Sanisafe has shattered silence, broken cultural taboos, and equipped women with knowledge, confidence, and dignity. This is not just a story of pads and practices — it’s a story of pride, progress, and powerful grassroots change.
Chitegaon is a modest rural village located in the Paithan block of Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. Like many villages in the region, Chitegaon is primarily agrarian, with limited access to healthcare, sanitation and structured awareness programs, particularly concerning women’s health. Deep-rooted cultural beliefs and taboos have long shaped community attitudes towards menstruation, making it a topic surrounded by silence and shame. Most women relied on old cloths during their periods due to lack of awareness, affordability and access to safe menstrual products.
Recognizing the critical need for change, CYDA & CIE India, launched the Sanisafe Project in Chitegaon. This intervention enhanced menstrual hygiene and transformed the mindsets of the people.
What started as a whisper of discomfort around menstruation, is now growing into voices of confidence, open conversations and a wave of community-driven change.
Curious how this transformation happened? Want to be part of a movement that’s breaking taboos and building healthier futures for women?
Join us on this powerful journey!
Discover how awareness, action, and empathy are rewriting the story of menstrual health in rural India.
The problem no one talked about in the community
In rural India, menstruation remains hidden in myths, silence, and shame. In Chitegaon, most women used old rags as sanitary protection during their periods — a practice rooted in a lack of awareness, economic limitations, and social stigma. Young women exposed to skin and urinary tract infections and long-term reproductive health issues and also deep psychological distress. Women avoided talking about their periods even with their daughters, continuing a harmful cycle of silence and shame. This cultural silence meant that mental health, self-esteem, and basic health practices were being undermined month after month.
A sensitive and strategic Intervention
Recognizing how deeply the issue of menstrual health was affecting women in Chitegaon, from poor hygiene practices to emotional stress caused by silence and shame, CYDA initiated Sanisafe Project. This initiative was designed as a holistic effort to educate, empower and bring lasting change. By addressing both the practical needs and the social stigma around menstruation, women have been given the knowledge, confidence, and tools they needed to manage their periods with dignity and without fear.
Breaking Barriers through Education and Community support
Trained facilitators from CYDA led engaging and interactive sessions, offering personal counselling and group discussions where women felt safe to express themselves openly — many for the very first time. These sessions created a supportive environment where silence gave way to conversation and hesitation turned into confidence. As part of the initiative, eco-friendly and re-usable sanitary pads were distributed completely free of cost — a smart, sustainable, and budget-friendly solution that addressed both health risks and environmental concerns.
Games, storytelling, and role plays helped women understand the importance of menstruation as a natural and healthy part of a woman’s life, breaking down barriers of taboo and misconceptions that had existed for generations. Local health workers, dedicated volunteers and active members of women self-help groups came together to reach out to young women, build trust and encourage participation. Their tireless efforts ensured that no woman felt left out or alone in this journey toward better health and empowerment.
Challenges on Ground

Initially, there was hesitation and fear. Many women refused to attend sessions due to embarrassment or lack of family support. In some households, men objected to their wives participating in such “inappropriate” discussions. CYDA facilitators also faced a trust barrier — earning the confidence of the community took time and persistence. Moreover, handling sensitive topics with empathy required continuous training and capacity-building of the local facilitators themselves.
Change was needed – CYDA listened, built trust, empowered the community, reshaped mindsets and transformed lives.
- Menstruation was something we never spoke about at home. It was always treated as dirty or shameful. I did not know how to explain it to my daughters. We all just suffered silently. The awareness session, enhanced our knowledge about menstrual hygiene and also reduced the dependency of harmful disposal products. These pads not only improved menstrual hygiene but also reduced the dependence on harmful disposable products – Admits Anju Pandey, beneficiary
- While working as a volunteer, I saw that the very women who were initially resistant are now taking initiative after attending the sessions. Some even bring their own daughters along. This shift in mindset is a very important beginning – Lata Rithe (Local Volunteer)
- Earlier, whenever my daughters faced any problems, I never allowed them to speak about it. But because of the Sanisafe Project, I learned that communication as a parent is very important. Now, our relationship has become stronger – Indabai Fandade
- When women are given the right information, they become capable of making decisions. The Sanisafe Project has created a unique sense of self-awareness among women – Ms.Rita Mahajan, WSHG leader
As a few women began to share their positive experiences, the impact started to spread across the village. Words echoed from one household to another. Curiosity turned into interest and interest turned into action. Participation increased steadily, and what was once an unspoken subject started to become a topic of open and healthy discussion. Slowly but surely, the silence that had lasted for generations began to break.
Key Achievements
- The project has so far reached over 2,960 women — a substantial number in a village of modest population.
- Health outcomes have improved.
- Women are following better hygiene practices.
- Mental barriers are crumbling.
- Mothers are talking to daughters openly
- Awareness increased in men and are been supportive.
- Schools are more open to menstrual education.
- The use of reusable sanitary pads has also reduced the environmental waste generated by commercial disposable pads.
CYDA has created a powerful shift in how women in Chitegaon approach menstruation. What was once a subject of silence, stigma, and shame is now becoming a topic of open conversation and growing confidence. It takes a holistic approach, focusing on women’s mental, physical, and social well-being. Through awareness sessions, personal counselling, and safe spaces for dialogue, women feel informed, respected, and empowered.