Menstruation and its consequent needs have been a topic largely kept under wraps in Indian society. There remains a large and persistent gap between access to resources and information regarding menstruation by women in India.
Their vision is to create a sustained space which includes educating, empowering and engaging women in Indian society, especially marginalised and economically vulnerable sections, concerning menstruation.
Improper information and lack of accessibility to menstrual products remain some of the most pertinent issues that menstruators still face today.
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These issues impact menstruators on a physical and fundamental level. Paint It Red was thus, built on the belief that concrete policy changes and education through constant engagement are imperative to address the needs of menstruators in India.
Our vision is to create a sustainable space to educate, empower and engage menstruators in India, especially marginalised and economically vulnerable sections, and destigmatise menstruation.
Paint It Red began with the passionate commitment of two women who have channeled their energy in addressing gender disparity.
Menstruation and its consequent needs have been a topic largely kept under wraps in Indian society. There remains a large and persistent gap between access to resources and information regarding menstruation by womxn in India.
Their vision is to create a sustained space which includes educating, empowering and engaging womxn in Indian society, especially marginalised and economically vulnerable sections, concerning menstruation.
The founders of Paint It Red are ardent advocates of menstrual rights in India. Improper information and lack of accessibility to menstrual products remain some of the most pertinent issues that womxn still face. They believe that concrete policy changes, education and empowerment through engagement can bring about real change.
Anoushka Sharma
Program Coordinator
An undergraduate Economics student at University of Toronto who has been in the social sector for over 6 years as a volunteer, operations officer, founding president and advisory.
Through her degree, she’s developing the requisite skills to acquire a global perspective and paving her path towards creating a better society. The twofold approach of the subject will eventually allow her to not only make behavioural and relativistic models to predict the repercussions due to change in policies, but also assimilate mathematical and statistical data to analyse this change.
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Through her degree, she’s developing the requisite skills to acquire a global perspective and paving her path towards creating a better society. The twofold approach of the subject will eventually allow her to not only make behavioural and relativistic models to predict the repercussions due to change in polices, but also assimilate mathematical and statistical data to analyse this change.
Abhilaasha Kaul
Resource Manager
A graduate of political science from Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University, Abhilaasha Kaul is a strong believer in grassroots mobilisation for bringing about effective change. She has worked as a curriculum designer for entrepreneurship programs with the likes of Ashoka University and Atal Incubation Centre as well as a campaign strategist for a leading political consultancy. She is currently learning how best to combine her love for social innovation with public policy in order to respond to the pressing issues of our times.
Ananya Chhaochharia
Founder/Director
Ananya Chhaochharia is an intersectional feminist working at the crossroads of gender and politics. Ananya transitioned from her well-paying job as a political consultant to initiate Paint It Red. As a 25-year old young changemaker, Ananya identifies the need to build collective movements to challenge systemic issues in the country. She has dedicatedly nurtured young leaders to enter the public policy and development sector.
She has been accepted into Harvard Kennedy School to pursue her Masters in Public Policy. She deferred her education due to COVID with the motivation to continue destigmatizing periods and provide relief to those who can’t afford or access it. Ananya was also one of the 2020 Finalists of the AFS Prize for Young Global Citizens.
Niharika Sharma
Co-founder
Niharika (She/They) is a strong development and management professional with a passion for gender justice, diversity, inclusion and holistic mental health.
Over the course of her career she has applied herself to global philanthropic projects geared towards the concerns of minority communities. Shehas curated and implemented modules pertaining to MHM and mental health, managed diverse country level gender and health programs, collaborated with State governments and also had her work published in journals and online forums.
Aakruti Dalmia
CEO
Aakruti Dalmia is a qualified chartered accountant with over a decade of teaching experience and community work. She primarily identifies herself as a trainer and educator. Over the years, besides teaching auditing and company law, she has covered topics like menstrual hygiene, environmental responsibility and feminism. Additionally, she has worked on spreading awareness and destigmatizing mental health by organizing Gujarat’s first mental health festival. She has also been the content and speaker head of TEDxSurat & worked with 40+ speakers on topics ranging from menstruation, education & casteism. As a Global Shaper, she was twice chosen to be a part of a delegation, which represented the city of Surat at the India Economic Summit by the World Economic Forum.
Menstruation remains a taboo subject in Indian society even today. A significant number of girls are not even aware of menstruation till they have their first period.
Menstruation is a natural phenomenon, yet the needs associated with menstruation are severely undermet in Indian society. Lack of infrastructure, inadequate education and awareness, and insufficient access to menstrual products makes menstruation a nightmare for some. The access to proper menstrual management is a basic human right necessary to live one’s life with dignity and honour.
Menstrual Hygiene Management is not simply a women’s issue. Its repercussions are multi-sectoral and require an integrated approach of holistic development. This includes the development and sound implementation of facilities pertaining to the Departments of Education, Health and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).
