A Class VIII girl living on the fringes of the city was told by her mother and grandmother not to step out of home while she was menstruating.
A cousin visited the girl and told her that menstruation was a "biological process" and that she should read up about it and explain to her family that it should not restrict her movements.
The girl shared her experience with other girls when a women's organisation came to her school in Belgharia to address them about menstruation, the hygiene to be practised, and why it should not be a taboo topic.
Soroptimist International Kolkata, City of Joy, conducted an awareness programme in the all-girls school.
"Be it urban areas or rural menstruation continues to remain a taboo topic. There are deep-seated myths passed from one generation to another which makes life uncomfortable for young girls," said Jayati Ghosh, president of Soroptimist International Kolkata, City of Joy.
Soroptimist International is a global volunteer movement that works together to transform the lives of women and girls. Its network of close to 65,000 members in 118 countries works at a local, national and international level to educate, empower and enable opportunities for women and girls.
The charter ceremony of Soroptimist International Kolkata, City of Joy, took place on Sunday.
This is the third chapter of Soroptimist International in Calcutta. The other two are Soroptimist International, Calcutta, (the mother club of SI Kolkata, City of Joy) and Soroptimist International, South Kolkata.
"More chapters would mean we can reach out to more women and girls. We also need more young individuals to take the baton forward," said Ghosh.
Ruth Healey, president of Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI), joined from the UK to preside over the charter ceremony.
"Soroptimist International is a fellowship of tens and thousands of women...united by a collective goal to improve the lives of women and girls...," said Healey.
The secretary of SI Kolkata, City of Joy, is Annapurna Banerjee.
