Where social communication, ecological practice and grassroots meet: The Menstrual Health Landscape of Rural India

Lakshmi Murthy, President, Jatan Sansthan, India

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Time: Fri 2025-05-30 14.00 - 15.00

Location: Room 4618 , floor 6, D-building (Lindstedsvägen 3 or 5, entrance oppositive Digital Futures), KTH

Video link: https://kth-se.zoom.us/j/63585767453

Language: English

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Rural menstruators in India face multiple challenges. Practices around menstruation, impact health, economics, society and environment, often making the management of menstruation unsustainable. This seminar will explore a number of issues:
- How does a young rural menstruator learn about menstruation?
- What are the various menstrual management methods, passed down generations?
- Why are menstrual management devices poorly maintained?
- What is the impact of a social norm around menstruation?
- What is the impact of silence and how does silence become a barrier to recommended good menstrual health?
- Will the involvement of men lead to better facilities for menstruators?
- How are some of these aspects to menstruation addressed by organisations and activist?

Lakshmi Murthy’s work is where design, social communication, ecological practice, and grassroots meet. Her pioneering work in the field of reproductive health communication and sustainable menstrual management, spans 35 years and has had a deep and broad impact in rural areas in Rajasthan and across India. She has developed many communication products for health especially for non-literate communities. Lakshmi is proud to be an activist. Her passion to break silence on women’s reproductive health issues has inspired many young people. She is the innovator of Uger Cloth Sanitary Pads. She is proud to keep all her work in the ‘Copy Left” space. Associated with an NGO in India, Jatan Sansthan since inception, she has led and continues to have an advisory role in multiple programmes of the organisation to include:
- Reproductive Health and Menstrual Health
- Uger Reusable Sanitary Cloth Pad Production
- Communication /Media Material
- Student Rural Immersion Programmes
- Supporting Design Internships and Degree Projects
Links:
1. thebetterindia.com/417310/lakshmi-murthy-menstrual-health-sustainable-design-india/
2. thehardcopy.co/why-design-needs-copyleft/
3. feminisminindia.com/2017/05/19/journey-menstrual-hygiene-management-india/
4. www.youthkiawaaz.com/2020/08/sheroes-women-at-the-forefront-of-indias-menstrual-fight/
5. jatansansthan.org/reproductive-health-and-uger/

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