Press Releases

31st May 2022

BALCO observes Menstrual Hygiene Day with week-long awareness drive

Launches short film ‘Sarika – Dondro ki Nayi Kiran’ celebrating efforts of Sarika Kanwar, a champion of menstrual rights

Balconagar; 31st May, 2022: Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO), India’s iconic aluminium producer and a subsidiary of Vedanta Aluminium Business, observed Menstrual Hygiene Day with a week-long awareness drive involving local communities. Under Nayi Kiran, BALCO’s community development project in menstrual health & hygiene, the company conducted various activities like wall painting, awareness rallies, slogan writing and poster making competition for sensitizing the public on menstrual hygiene.

The highlight of the week was the launch of a short film, ‘Sarika – Dondro ki Nayi Kiran’, which follows the story of local champion Sarika and her inspirational campaign on menstrual rights, as part of Project Nayi Kiran. The film, which was released in the presence of over 500 people, showcases the impact of the project on local communities. Link to view the film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUUJVrJWr5M

Launched in 2019, Project Nayi Kiran reaches out to 45 villages and wards spread across rural and urban areas. The project has undertaken capacity building and leadership sessions with around 60 adolescent girls group, 60 women’s Self-Help Groups and 60 frontline workers, making them torchbearers on spreading awareness about safe menstrual health practices. In an inclusive step, the project has also worked towards sensitizing the male fraternity. 60 adolescent boys have also been made community champions on menstrual health awareness. This year four Swastha Suvidha Kendras have also been established in villages for counselling on Menstrual Health & Hygiene related issues and for addressing queries, if any. Till date, BALCO has sensitized nearly 33,400 women, men, adolescent girls and boys through Nayi Kiran.

Launching the film, Mr. Abhijit Pati, CEO & Director, BALCO, said, “I extend my sincere gratitude towards the community members and especially towards adolescent girl leaders for steering the Project Nayi Kiran at grassroot level and making it a success. ‘Sarika’ is not just a short film but a beacon of change, which will serve as an inspiration to the entire region and the state at large. We, at BALCO, are committed to go the extra mile towards addressing the myths surrounding menstruation and spreading awareness on menstrual health & hygiene, for bringing about a positive transformation in the health of women and girls in the region.”

Sharing her experience, Sarika Kanwar, on whom the short film is based, said, “I am extremely thankful towards the entire team of BALCO for their relentless efforts to address the many taboos and myths associated with menstruation. Project Nayi Kiran has not only helped thousands of women, but even sensitized the male community, thus bringing about a holistic change in perception towards menstruation.”

Jaya Rathiya, Sarpanch of Bela village added, “BALCO’s Project Nayi Kiran has been playing an instrumental role in improving the health profile of female members especially belonging to the rural community. I commend the slew of initiatives undertaken by BALCO as part of the project, for we can see the changes in the community already.”

Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO) is India’s iconic aluminium producer. It is owned 49% by the Government of India and 51% by Vedanta Limited. BALCO is part of Vedanta’s Aluminium Business, a division of Vedanta Limited, which is India’s largest manufacturer of aluminium. BALCO operates a 0.57 million tonne per annum aluminium smelter in Korba, Chhattisgarh. It is also a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. With its world-class smelter and power plants, the company fulfills its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow.