Whisper & Mrunal Thakur spread awareness on Menstrual Hygiene Day

To make menstruation a normal fact of life by 2030 is the theme for Menstrual Hygiene Day this year. This year, Whisper, the sanitary pads brand, has joined hands with actress Mrunal Thakur to help India’s young girls and women normalize their periods and learn about menstrual health and hygiene.

The actress, known for films like Sitaraman, Super 30 and Batla House, was papped outside a shoot location sporting a t-shirt with the ‘Missing Chapter’ on Periods printed on it in red that explained the biology behind periods. While posing for photographers, she spoke about the relevance of Menstrual Hygiene Day observed globally on May 28th and highlighted the issues that women face. These include lack of access to hygienic menstrual products, proper sanitation and disposal facilities and the correct knowledge about the science behind periods.

“I’ve been associated with Whisper as a consumer for years now and I really laud the brand on the incredible job it is doing with its #KeepGirlsInSchool campaign. I’m very happy to do my bit to take forward this cause. It is time for India’s mothers and girls to have open conversations about periods and create a world where menstruation is not seen as a barrier to girls’ education and well-being, but rather as a biological process. On Menstrual Hygiene Day, I urge all mothers to read Whisper’s ‘Missing Chapter’ and spread the good word to their daughters,” said actress Mrunal Thakur.

In India, a study found that 70% of mothers lack the basic knowledge about periods, which in turn, creates a significant gap in the education and information they pass on to their daughters. One out of five girls in India are forced to drop out of school because they do not have basic period education and access to sanitary products.

Recently, Whisper launched a film titled ‘The Missing Chapter’ to educate mothers, a girl’s first teacher, about the biology of periods as part of the fourth edition of its #KeepGirlsInSchool (KGIS) movement. This campaign aims to openly discuss and describe the often undiscussed ‘how’s and ‘why’s’ of periods. Whisper’s goal is to help mothers break the cycle of misinformation and raise informed daughters who can perfectly manage their periods and not have to miss school during that time of the month.

Whisper India’s mission is to provide the right period education and products to girls and women in India, enabling them to maintain their menstrual health and hygiene. The brand has already helped keep over 10 crore girls in school by providing period education and free pads.

Whisper’s latest campaign emphasises on the fact that ‘Maa Padhegi toh Beti Badhegi’ (When a mother learns, her daughter progresses).