Hygiene Crusader, Period!

In a country where talking about menstruation can still be a taboo, this foundation raises awareness among the women from across the country, especially in the rural areas where one might find many who still are unaware. Dilip talks about how tough it was in the beginning to work for a cause that is still not accepted by society, and how to overcame his shortcomings to serve a greater cause — helping educate women from all walks of life! 

This 26-year-old has broken the taboo of menstrual hygiene in rural areas. Dilip Pattubala, co-founder of Sukhibhava, a social enterprise working with marginalised women and adolescent girls, aspires to empower women through awareness and improved access to healthy menstrual practices.
Dilip’s father always wanted him to be a doctor but the next best option was to be an engineer. Yet, he didn’t want to do that either. Armed with a business management degree, he ensconced himself into social work, working with The Akshaya Patra Foundation, HelpAge India. Soon after, he went deeper into his calling with an MSc in social welfare and social policy from Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge. He also worked with the Red Cross Society in London until he joined Pollinate Energy, an Australian start-up working to eradicate energy poverty in the urban slums of Bengaluru. “In the beginning, it was tough to convince my father of the work that I would be doing as not many men support such a cause. But, later as he saw that I was passionate about my work, he was okay with it,” says Dilip who loves chai and making chai. Infact, he is a tea connoisseur that prides in it.

The social side

In India, menstruation has been shrouded in myths and taboos, directly resulting in a lack of awareness in terms of accessibility and affordability. Sukhibhava wants to change that outlook and has so far worked with more than 17,000 women and adolescent girls in India, thus, successfully creating awareness about menstrual hygiene and ensuring doorstep accessibility at a low cost with its workshops and talks. The Bengaluru boy explains, “Sukhibhava’s vision is my biggest dream, a day when every woman has the access and awareness to hygienic menstrual practices. But I don’t see that as an end, I want to work on similar issues which are often not talked about. Family planning will be our next project.” When he is not busy with Sukhibhava, Dilip enjoys any fitness pursuit, especially jogging. 

The future is bright

The foundation is excited about its fellowship programmes that will start soon. ‘Period Fellowship’ will bring together young, dynamic women from diverse backgrounds to create awareness on menstruation and menstrual hygiene among one million girls in urban and rural India, during one year. The charitable man loves spending time with his pet dog when he is not travelling through the villages in India.