BANDIPORA, Oct 5 (KNS): Aasima Jan could have confined her work to the classroom. Instead, she chose to take menstrual health awareness into villages where menstruation is still rarely discussed openly. Her sustained efforts, which began in Bandipora and later expanded across Baramulla, have now been featured in The Times of India.

A native of Bandipora, Aasima has spent years creating awareness among adolescent girls and their families about menstrual health, hygiene and the stigma surrounding menstruation.

Her campaign began during her posting in Bandipora, where she noticed that some girls were missing school during their periods. In some cases, families discouraged them from attending school. For Aasima, the issue went beyond attendance. It was about awareness, dignity and ensuring that girls could continue their education without shame or stigma.

She began counselling students and parents, conducting additional awareness sessions and encouraging girls to view menstruation as a natural part of growing up. What began as a school-level initiative gradually developed into a wider awareness campaign.

After her marriage and subsequent move to Baramulla, she continued the work and expanded its reach. On Sundays and holidays, she travels to villages, works with local representatives and speaks with girls and their families. Her outreach has taken her to remote areas, including Gurez and Uri, as well as Rampora Rajpora, Naribal and Gujjar and Bakerwal communities.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

During these visits, she has encountered girls who still use cloth during menstruation and families who remain reluctant to discuss the subject openly. She speaks to them about menstrual hygiene, safe practices, the proper use and disposal of sanitary products, and the need to overcome the shame associated with a natural biological process.

On some occasions, she has also bought sanitary pads with her own money for girls she meets during her outreach visits.

Her work centres on three themes awareness, acceptance and action. She has also worked with families to encourage the re-enrolment of children who had dropped out of school, linking education with broader social awareness.

Her sustained efforts were recognised in 2023 when she received the Jammu and Kashmir State Best Teacher Award.

For Bandipora, her story carries particular significance. She began much of this work in the district and has continued reaching communities even after moving to Baramulla. She also uses social media to raise awareness about menstrual health and other social issues.

People who have known her since childhood say her dedication and perseverance have made her native district proud. One admirer wrote, “We are all truly proud of you. Keep making us proud.”

From Bandipora to Baramulla, and now to national attention, Aasima Jan’s journey shows how sustained social change can begin with a conversation one girl and one village at a time.