Kolhapur ZP sets up ‘pink rooms’ in 833 schools to support girls’ menstrual health

Kolhapur zila parishad (ZP) in Maharashtra has set up ‘pink rooms’ in all 833 of its schools to create safe spaces for girls to talk about menstrual health and manage their physical health needs.

The ZP launched the project on November 5, 2025, and ensured that all 833 schools in Kolhapur district had a dedicated pink room by December 30 in the same year. It funded the initiative through public participation, gram panchayats, alumni associations, charitable individuals and institutions, and allocations from the 15th Finance Commission, among other sources.

“The concept has benefited girls as they can communicate freely with each other and with teachers, become aware of their bodily changes, and it has helped us improve attendance in the schools. Kolhapur is a progressive district, but the dropout rate here is high. The idea is to provide space to girls during school hours to rest rather than going home,” said Kolhapur ZP CEO Karthikeyan S.

‘Time to rest’

Gita Yuvraj Patil, mother of Karthiki Patil, a Class 7 student at Longhe zila parishad school in Kolhapur’s Gaganbawada taluka, pointed out that girls now get time to rest in school instead of bunking the entire day. “The facility is well equipped. My daughter used to come home to change her sanitary napkin during her monthly cycle because of the inconvenience at school. Now, she is using the facility at the school and is also able to dispose of the used pads,” she added.

For Pallavi Patil from Longhe village and Sarika Bhosale from Abdullat village in Shirol taluka, the pink room was more about an introduction to menstrual cycles. “In the room, I learned about periods. When I got my first period, I was at school. I visited the room, got sanitary pads, and then attended classes,” said Pallavi. Sarika is aware of menstrual cycles and knows what to do when they occur.

Library, flex boards

According to the Kolhapur ZP, a few parents on the school management committee (SMC) complained that teachers sent students home over minor health issues which can be addressed at the school level. As a solution, the concept of the pink room was suggested. Among the 833 schools, at least 38 have innovative pink rooms that include a library, digital flex boards, and nutritious food for girls, such as peanuts, jaggery, dates, raisins, chickpeas, and more.

“Some gram panchayats like Pirachiwadi in Kagal taluka have dedicated an entire building where girls can relax, read, study, and have privacy. The pink room has incinerators, a stock of sanitary pads, ayurvedic medicines, food items, and other facilities. We have also asked healthcare workers to visit occasionally and provide consultations,” said Primary Education Officer Meena Shendkar.

Schools with infrastructural constraints have the option to divide classrooms using curtains or plywood.

“Teenage girls go through physical, mental, and emotional changes as they reach puberty, during which they need a pink room to meet their health needs, get rest, and receive guidance in a safe, clean, and friendly environment,” said Mr. Karthikeyan.

As part of the initiative, the ‘Kishori Samvad Abhiyan’ was implemented in September 2025 to provide assistance to students in schools with no female teachers. In 618 primary schools in Kolhapur district where there are only male teachers, female teachers from nearby schools are expected to attend the allocated schools once a week on Saturdays and guide girls on the physical changes.