Period Chart Campaign
{{Short description|Indian social movement}}{{Infobox event
| native_name = पीरियड चार्ट मुहिम
| native_name_lang = hi
| date = 2019
| Location = India
| theme = Feminine hygiene
| motive = Open discussions about menstruation
| patron = Sunil Jaglan
}}
The Period Chart Campaign is an Indian social movement aimed at normalising menstruation and reducing stigma. Launched by social activist Sunil Jaglan in 2019, the campaign encourages open discussions about menstruation.
History
The movement was inspired by Jaglan’s discussions with his daughters about menstruation, during which he recognised the need for open dialogue on the subject.{{Cite news |date=2021-02-24 |title=Haryana: Period charts at home is former sarpanch’s latest campaign |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/period-charts-at-home-is-former-sarpanchs-latest-campaign/articleshow/81179932.cms |access-date=2024-12-25 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}{{Cite web |date=2024-03-07 |title=Man Behind 'Selfie With Daughter' Starts Campaign To Praise PM Modi |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/lok-sabha-elections-2024-sunil-jaglan-man-behind-selfie-with-daughter-starts-campaign-to-praise-pm-narendra-article-108305663 |access-date=2024-12-25 |website=Times Now |language=en}}
Jaglan gathered information from doctors, leading to the creation of period charts in 2019. These charts display the dates and duration of menstrual cycles and aimed to promote transparency and support from male family members.{{Cite news |date=2022-08-17 |title=Menstruation: Indian women fight period shame with charts |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-62561813 |website=BBC|access-date=2024-12-25 |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2022-12-21 |title=Period charts at home: Former sarpanch’s campaign helps Haryana women manage menstrual cycle with family support |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/menstrual-management-hygiene-campaign-haryana-period-charts-8336384/ |access-date=2024-12-25 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}
{{Quote|text=With the period chart on the wall, both the men and women in the family know that the girl’s period is due. It is to start a discussion and normalise periods within the family|author=Sunil Jaglan|source=}}
Goal
The movement was launched with an aim to dispel myths surrounding menstrual hygiene.{{Cite web |title=Period Chart Campaign |url=https://selfiewithdaughter.org/campaign-details.php?id=11 |access-date=2024-12-25 |website=selfiewithdaughter.org}}
The Period Chart is a calendar-style chart that allows women in the household to write their names, months, and dates to keep track of their menstrual cycles. It also helps monitor any changes in the timing of their periods over time.{{Cite web |last=खातून |first=अलमिना |date=2023-02-02 |title=सैनिटरी नैपकिन, मेंस्ट्रुअल कप के साथ-साथ पीरियड चार्ट भी हुआ उन दिनों में जरूरी |url=https://hindi.theprint.in/india/period-chart-sunil-jaglan-menstrual-cycle-menstrual-irregularity-mentrual-cups/460154/ |access-date=2024-12-26 |website=ThePrint |language=Hi}}
The initiative encourages families to display the chart on the walls of their homes with the goal to foster open conversations about a topic that is often stigmatised in Indian households.{{Cite news |date=2021-07-31 |title=This former Sarpanch is fighting against menstrual myths |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-times/this-former-sarpanch-is-fighting-against-menstrual-myths/articleshow/84925755.cms |access-date=2024-12-25 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}
Impact
Originally launched in villages in Nuh and Jind districts of Haryana, the campaign has expanded to seven Indian states, involving over a thousand women participants.{{Cite web |title=स्क्रीन पर दिखेगी हरियाणा से शुरू महिलाओं की पीरियड चार्ट मुहिम, जानें क्या है यह अभियान - Womens Period chart, Menstruation chart, period chart campaign from Haryana will be seen on the screen Jagran special |url=https://www.jagran.com/haryana/panchkula-womens-period-chart-campaign-from-haryana-will-be-seen-on-the-screen-jagran-special-21548799.html |access-date=2024-12-25 |website=Jagran |language=hi}}{{Cite web |title=Breaking Taboos: Period Charts Empower Women and Normalize Menstruation in India |url=https://www.pinkishe.org/learn-with-us/menstruation-new/breaking-taboos-period-charts-empower-women-and-normalize-menstruation-in-india |access-date=2024-12-26 |website=www.pinkishe.org}}
The campaign received support from UN Women to implement the initiative in Nepal.{{Cite web |last=JantaTv |title=नेपाल को भाया सुनील जागलान द्वारा शुरू किया गया पीरियड चार्ट व बेटियों के नाम नेम प्लेट अभियान |url=https://www.jantatv.com/news/nepal-liked-the-period-chart-and-name-plate-campaign-for-daughters-started-by-sunil-jaglan |access-date=2024-12-25 |website=JANTATV NEWS |language=hi}}
In popular culture
A short film titled "Period Chart," directed by M. Taufik and starring Rahul Kumar, was released in 2021, inspired by and named after the campaign.