What is Project AROHI?
Project AROHI is a flagship menstrual health and hygiene initiative implemented in Basoda block of Vidisha district, Madhya Pradesh, aiming to empower over 34,000 adolescent girls and women through a multi-layered approach. The project is funded by NITI Aayog under the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) of the Central Government and is being implemented in close collaboration with the Women and Child Development Department, ITI Department, Education Department, Health Department, and the Zila Panchayat of Vidisha.
Launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in 2018, the Aspirational Districts Programme aims to rapidly transform the most underdeveloped districts in India through focused governance, multi-stakeholder convergence, and measurable outcomes. It is anchored by NITI Aayog and aligns with the vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” and the global “Leave No One Behind” principle under the SDGs.
Project AROHI is built around four key interventions:
1. Mahila Swasthya Mela:
Bi-monthly Women’s Health Fairs are organized across the block, offering free check-ups, consultations with gynecologists, and awareness sessions on menstruation, reproductive health, nutrition, and sanitation. These Melas aim to create safe, open spaces for rural women to engage in conversations around health and hygiene while accessing quality medical services and educational material.
2. Capacity Building of Local Functionaries:
To build long-term community capacity, 2,103 grassroots functionaries—including ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers and helpers, schoolteachers, SHG leaders, hostel wardens, and college students—are trained through a ‘Train-the-Trainer’ model. These trained personnel act as change agents in their own ecosystems, delivering menstrual health awareness in schools, communities, and public spaces.
3. Menstrual Hygiene Infrastructure:
The project installs sanitary pad vending machines and incinerators in 35 government secondary schools and 4 girls’ hostels in Basoda. These are regularly monitored and restocked, with institutions graded (green/yellow/red) based on refill patterns. Schools flagged as red or yellow receive additional support, teacher engagement, and special drives to improve access and awareness.
4. Menstrual Health Awareness Sessions:
Large-scale awareness sessions reach 25,000 women and 7,500 adolescent girls through Anganwadis, PHCs, Gram Sabhas, schools, and hostels. These sessions focus on menstrual hygiene, breaking taboos, identifying disorders, and promoting health-seeking behavior.
Project AROHI reflects the spirit of convergence, equity, and inclusion, aiming not only to improve menstrual health but also to foster dignity, awareness, and sustainable development in one of India’s priority districts.