A group of adolescent girls from underserved communities in Mumbai has drafted what is being called the city’s first Charter of Menstrual Rights. The document was drawn up during a youth roundtable held to mark Child Rights Week and centred the lived experiences of girls who face stigma, discomfort, and lack of access during menstruation.

Hosted by menstrual health initiative Ujaas, the event took place at the Aditya Birla World Academy, on November 19 and brought together girls aged 14 to 19 from five grassroots organisations — Vacha, CHIP, PUKAR, OSCAR Foundation and CORO — who shared personal accounts of their first periods. Fear, shame, misinformation and social restrictions were recurring themes. Despite progress in policy and awareness in recent years, participants said their realities still include inadequate school infrastructure, limited product access and social pressure to hide or suppress menstruation.