Awareness is the fourth pillar of our mission NEHAL which stands as the heart and soul of Afflatus Foundation. We specifically focus on awareness with utmost dedication and determination owing to the fact that all the other tenets of our mission are connected to this very pillar of our mission. Without the proper level of awareness amongst people, no amount of relief or upliftment work can pose an impact in the minds of people unless it is these people who realise from within what is good for them. Keeping that in mind, Afflatus Foundation works hard throughout the length and breadth of the state to carry out awareness programs on various premises and aspects in collaboration with numerous dignified bodies.
For Afflatus Foundation, it is indeed a matter of pride for us to mention that our menstrual health awareness programme “Ghore Ghore Sanitary Pad” has been our prime umbrella project that has been in execution since the last decade and has slowly spread its impact and influence with time. Ghore Ghore Sanitary Pad is the brainchild of Mr. Sobhan Mukherjee, Founder Member of Afflatus Foundation, better known as “The Padman of Bengal.”
This venture of ours has been the recipient of partnerships by multiple local authorities, governing bodies, special celebrities as well as the Government of India. Aimed at women empowerment and menstrual hygiene awareness, the programme has touched more than 5 lakh people till date, executed more than 3000 first chain awareness camps and continues to do so along with focus on child Trafficking, Adolescent Training, Domestic Abuse, Family Planning and other accessorial aspects as well besides its main focus on the awareness of menstrual health and hygiene. Our "Ghore Ghore Sanitary Pad" project is a cornerstone of our efforts to promote menstrual health and hygiene. This initiative focuses on comprehensive education, enlightenment, and raising both personal and community awareness. It also addresses critical issues such as child trafficking, adolescent training, and domestic abuse, striving to foster a more informed and supportive environment.
We also proudly stand as the first in the nation to initiate project Bandhan, installing sanitary pad vending machines in public washrooms across Kolkata, ensuring women have access to sanitary products during emergencies. This groundbreaking initiative that was aimed at breaking the taboo at the heart of the city of Kolkata, has garnered widespread recognition, including acknowledgment from renowned Pan Indian actor Akshay Kumar, and has earned numerous awards for its impact
Our Transgender Development Programme, Tridhara, was critically acclaimed for reserving public washrooms of Kolkata for transgenders as well along with sensitization and awareness for the development of transgenders. The project has been critically acclaimed for its pioneering efforts to reserve public washrooms in Kolkata for transgender individuals. This initiative, which includes sensitization and awareness efforts, aims to support the development and inclusion of the transgender community, contributing to a more equitable and understanding society.
Our collaborations with ITC have given successful milestones in the form of Project Umang and Swastha Bangla Project. Afflatus Foundation carried out ITC’s flagship Project Umang in the FY 2024 – 25 in collaboration with ITC. The project was aimed at training food handlers involving caterers, helpers, chefs, assistants, solo workers, mid-day meal workers and even household cooks all over the state of the Bengal. The project was particularly aimed at training food handlers with respect to food safety and hygiene and how to keep oneself clean and the sanctity of the food prepared uncompromised. The training also encompassed all the accessorial aspects relating to the theme of the program. The project was executed all across the length and breadth of Bengal, encompassing 16 districts altogether and involving 2603 participants over 29 training camps, just within a span of 5 months.
The Swastha Bangla Project was carried out by Afflatus Foundation across the heart of rural Bengal, especially the western plateau region. The project included training the local women of rural Bengal with respect to aspects like food adulteration, spices, oils and the impurities present in them as well as how to differentiate among safe and adulterated spices and what are the means and precautions necessary to prepare safe and tasty food items.
We also carry out numerous awareness programmes all throughout the year in collaboration with the Bengal Obstetrics and Gynecological Society (BOGS). Awareness campaigns on taboos like menstrual hygiene, cysts, cervical cancer, family planning, contraceptives and protection, breastfeeding, prenatal and postnatal care, child trafficking prevention etc., are carried out throughout the year ranging from Darjeeling in the north to the Sundarbans in the south. Celebration of the World Breastfeeding Week and Violence Against Women are a few notable mentions that turned into successful beacons for the world to address.
Afflatus Foundation moves forward with the steady vision in mind to ensure awareness not just across the state, but all across the country one day. With a vision of well-uplifted society devoid of social evils, our fight towards a well-educated society keeps moving forward.
