Rangeen Khidki started working with a community of slum-dwellers in Panchanantala, a posh area of Kolkata, amidst the pandemic in 2020, to generate menstrual health awareness among the young menstruators. Our aim was to help create a safe space for the adolescents, and thereby enable them to make an informed choice about their bodies. This is a journey of this community, through the eyes of Uma (name changed).
Let us follow Uma, who is here seen buying her menstruation supply.

Young Uma is found questioning the stigma that our society normally associates with periods.

With a simple act, our rebellious young friend decides to throw unnecessary associations in the bin.

However, Uma cannot cast away the societal prejudices that easily.

Young Uma understands the importance of awareness in banishing such taboos.

Rangeen Khidki helps further Uma's search for knowledge and guides the young people towards a path of unlearning and relearning their own bodily autonomy.

The older generations soon join the young girls, and together with Rangeen Khidki, help create a safe environment for conversations concerning menstrual health and hygiene.

This leads to awareness of the different choices one has for menstrual hygeine products.

Furthermore, the community learns how to make conscious and informed choices with regards to both their bodies and the environment.

Rangeen Khidki is happy to present how conscious choices are being made by the menstruators of this slum in Kolkata.

The women are here seen praying for a society that is educated and devoid of stigmas surrounding periods.

Rangeen Khidki would like to point out the most striking aspect of this entire journey - the women make the temple courtyard their safe space for menstrual conversations, something that is almost never heard of.