Period Taboo Still Rules This Village, Help 15,000 Tribal Women Find Safe Menstrual Hygiene

Raji* was only 13 when she got her first period. For more than 18 years now, she has spent close to 1,000 nights and days in a ramshackle hut every time her period arrives. The cracked walls, cold clay floor, and absence of basic facilities—like toilets or running water—make it an unbearable ordeal. Forced to sleep on the bare ground with no electricity, her only companion during these nights is the sliver of moonlight peeking through the hut’s broken roof.

Raji is not alone. For generations, the Madia tribal community in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district has believed that menstruating women are "impure." There is only one kurma ghar for 4-5 households —a Period Room—a crude hut with no proper bedding, sanitation, or dignity. 

Kurma Ghars: where shame hides in the shadows

The stigma runs so deep that women hang their soiled cloth pads on the thatched roof of the Kurma Ghar, fearing judgment if they are washed or dried in sunlight. Hygiene practices are neglected, exposing them to infections and diseases.

The emotional and physical toll of this isolation is unimaginable. 

“It’s not just the discomfort—it’s the cold, the loneliness, and the shame that make these nights feel endless. Some nights, animals cry out nearby. Other times, mice and lizards crawl over us. We’ve heard of women dying from snake or scorpion bites. I’m scared that another sister, another daughter will have to go through this…”- Raji shares. 

Breaking the chain of stigma – Project Lajja by MTD

Making The Difference (MTD) has taken the bold step to challenge this oppressive tradition through Project Lajja by building Mayur Shakti Niketan - a reformed version of the Kurma Ghars. Through this project they aim to empower women and raise awareness about menstrual health. They provide year-long menstrual hygiene kits where affordable options are scarce. Through workshops and outreach, they spread awareness, busts myths, and tackles taboos around periods. With support from local leaders, Lajja helps women feel safe, confident, and cared for.

Deepak Viswakarma, the founder of MTD, explains the uphill battle:

“When we ask people to stop using Kurma Ghars, there is a lot of resistance due to superstition and lack of awareness. They believe that if women don’t stay in these huts, the Gram Devi—the village deity—will bring disease upon them. But we are working to empower women with knowledge, step-by-step, and slowly changing the mindset.”

The organization believes that the first step toward change is dignity. MTD is reconstructing the broken Kurma Ghars to create safe, clean spaces called Mayur Shakti Niketan while spreading awareness to break the stigma. Their motto: "Period Stigma ko Dena Hai Maat, Toh Lajja Ki Kya Baat!" 

How you can help

With your support, Deepak and his team can rebuild the Kurma Ghars into safe, hygienic spaces and equip the women of this community with the resources they need. Here’s how your donation will help:

• Reconstructing Kurma Ghars with essential materials to create better living conditions.

• Providing sanitary napkins to promote hygienic practices and prevent infections.

• Educational workshops and materials to spread awareness about menstruation and dismantle age-old stigmas.

Your contribution, no matter how small, can bring dignity, safety, and hope to 15,000 women in 100 villages. Let’s come together to rewrite the narrative for Raji and thousands like her. A better tomorrow begins with breaking the chains of today’s stigma.

Donate now and make a difference—because no woman should ever be made to feel ashamed of her body.