BALCO Transforms 85,000+ Lives Through ‘Project Nayi Kiran’, Championing Menstrual Hygiene Awareness in Communities

Balconagar, 28th May 2025: Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO), India’s iconic Aluminium producer and a part of Vedanta Aluminium, has positively impacted over 85,000 individuals through its flagship community initiative Project Nayi Kiran. Since its inception, BALCO has demystified menstrual myths, fostered open conversations, and promoted sustainable menstrual hygiene practices in 45 villages around Korba, Chhattisgarh.

Project Nayi Kiran aims to address the widespread taboos surrounding menstruation in the community systematically. It focuses on educating people about menstrual health and hygiene by dispelling myths and misconceptions. Through structured training sessions, the initiative empowers individuals with the right knowledge and resources, while also encouraging them to promote sustainable menstrual hygiene practices within their communities.

Additionally, BALCO also conducts various activities like training sessions capacitating individuals including frontline workers, women from self-help groups, and adolescents to become the torchbearers of change and promote awareness on menstrual health and adoption of sustainable practices like sanitary pad-making and open dialogues. Furthermore, 50% of Government High Schools and Higher Secondary Schools are made Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) friendly by conducting regular sessions on adolescence and puberty. Around 700 community members were trained as Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) Saathis to champion awareness and drive change within their communities.

Speaking on the occasion, Rajesh Kumar, CEO and Director of BALCO, said, “At BALCO, the well-being of both our communities remains at the heart of our operations. Whether through door-step health interventions, knowledge sharing and training sessions, and state-of-the-art hospitals, we strive to build an environment where holistic health and dignity are prioritized. Empowerment begins with awareness, and we’re proud to drive positive change consistently at every level.”

Sharing her experience as a Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) Saathi at Government School under Project Nayi Kiran, Dipti Singh said “Becoming an MHM Saathi has been a truly transformative journey—not only for our students but for us teachers as well. Menstrual health was once surrounded by silence and misinformation. Today, our school proudly identifies as an MHM-Friendly School, where adolescent girls feel safe, informed, and supported. Through regular sessions, open dialogue, and access to hygiene resources, we’ve created an environment where students are no longer held back by stigma or discomfort. Nayi Kiran has empowered us to nurture both academic growth and personal dignity in every child we teach.”

To inspire behavioral change, BALCO has conducted a range of activities through the years, with its five signature modules.

• BALCO facilitated interactive discussions through community sessions such as Chai Pe Charcha and Ratri Chaupal.
• The company also encouraged Maa Beti – Saas Bahu Samelan that encouraged intergenerational discussions around menstruation.
• BALCO also rolled out the Safe Space Campaign, identifying local clinics, shops, and schools as judgment-free zones.
• BALCO launched an employee volunteer program ‘Supporting Green Periods’ under the campaign where women were trained to make reusable cloth pads.
• BALCO distributed anatomical models made from terracotta and Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Materials tailored for differently abled individuals.

The initiative has garnered appreciation from several esteemed institutions, acknowledging BALCO’s constant efforts in transforming for good. Recently, the Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) presented BALCO with the prestigious ASSOCHAM Award 2024 for “Maximum Impact by CSR initiative in Menstrual Hygiene-Corporate & PSUs,” recognizing the company’s efforts to raise awareness of menstrual health and hygiene.

About Project Nayi Kiran

Project Nayi Kiran was initiated in 2019, which aimed at demystifying menstrual myths and taboos while promoting sustainable hygiene practices during menstruation, raise awareness about product choices and impart trainings to ensure a safe reproductive health. Since its inception, Nayi Kiran has sensitized 85,000+ people through awareness generation and training in 45 villages of Korba. 700+ community members ranging from adolescent boys & girls, SHG women, and frontline workers (Anganwadi & ASHA workers) have also been taught Menstrual Health Management, enabling them to emerge as master trainers and torchbearers of change in the community.