Gramalaya, established in 1987 by Padma Shri Awardee Mr. S Damodaran, is dedicated to ensuring good health, safety, security, and privacy for women and children through sanitation initiatives. Our vision is to create a society where everyone has access to safe sanitation, adequate water, and MHM facilities, empowering individuals and communities. As a recognized National Key Resource Centre under the Jal Jeevan Mission, approved by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India, Gramalaya has demonstrated successful water and sanitation models over the past 36 years. We are committed to expanding our impact to various parts of India, offering capacity-building and support services to organizations interested in the sector.
Beyond water and sanitation, Gramalaya focuses on promoting Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) in Southern states. Recognizing that a significant number of adolescent girls in India lack awareness about menstruation, we strive to address this gap by providing education and access to hygiene products. Our efforts include the promotion of over 700+ adolescent girl-friendly toilet complexes, 180+ renovated community toilets, and the distribution of eco-friendly reusable cloth pads. In the last seven years, Gramalaya has reached over 20,00,000+ women and girls, encouraging the switch from unhygienic menstrual practices to eco-friendly alternatives. Our promotion of reusable cloth pads, totaling more than 7,25,000+, aims to reduce environmental pollution caused by single-use sanitary napkins.
Pioneering India’s first sanitary napkin-free village and declaring 180+ villages in South India as role models for sustainable menstrual practices, Gramalaya has made significant strides. The impact extends to economically backward districts like Pudukottai in Tamil Nadu, now a role model district for good menstrual hygiene practices and environmental preservation. In Pudukottai, Gramalaya conducts MHM education sessions for women and adolescent girls in schools and colleges. Over 1000+ teachers and Anganwadi workers have undergone Training of Trainers (TOT), empowering them to further educate girls about menstrual hygiene. Additionally, 2000 volunteers in all 13 blocks of Pudukottai are spreading awareness about safe and sustainable menstruation.
Gramalaya successfully conducted the India’s First Menstrual Hygiene Management Summit in 2019 in New Delhi, which drew the participation of over 180 delegates, and the subsequent Second MHM Summit in 2022 in Chennai, attended by 200 delegates, Third MHM Summit 2023 at New Delhi with 250 Delegates from across India, these forums have proven instrumental in fostering collaboration. The networking concept employed during these summits has effectively transformed MHM into a nationwide people’s movement, with numerous like-minded organizations actively participating in the campaign.
Looking ahead, Gramalaya plans to scale up its operations across 10 states in the next five years, aligning with the Government of India’s initiatives such as Jal Jeevan Mission and Swachh Bharath Mission. Our focus on MHM and nutrition programs aims to propagate a vision of a plastic-free environment and sustainable menstrual hygiene practices.