Belagavi: This Women’s Day marks a significant milestone for Kothaliwadi village in Belagavi district, as the village moves towards becoming Karnataka’s first community-led menstrual plastic-free village, an initiative spearheaded by the Pankh India Foundation.
Over the past six months, the foundation has worked closely with the local community to promote sustainable menstrual health practices. The initiative included awareness sessions on menstrual hygiene, training rural women to stitch reusable cloth pads, and distributing these pads free of cost across the village.
The programme also featured health and awareness sessions conducted by gynaecologists and the installation of dustbins across the village to encourage proper waste management and environmentally responsible practices.
While several government programmes in Karnataka have promoted menstrual waste reduction, this initiative stands out for its community-driven approach, where rural women themselves are actively producing and adopting reusable menstrual products.
The effort highlights how awareness, community participation and sustainable alternatives can help villages reduce menstrual plastic waste while also creating livelihood opportunities for rural women.
A short documentary capturing the village’s six-month journey towards this goal is expected to be released soon.
