📄 Abstract
Sound menstrual hygiene management programs initiated by the Tamil Nadu government and academic institutions helped girls and women adopt advanced menstrual hygiene practices. MHM serves as a critical multi-access interface for sociocultural, gender equity, environmental sustainability, and public health. The menstrual practices related to product choice, reuse, and disposal have been influenced by the traditional knowledge and practices of indigenous women in Tamil Nadu, India. On the other hand, as the use of disposable menstrual products and centralised waste management has increased, questions of affordability, environmental sustainability and women's informed choice have arisen. This study examines ways to integrate indigenous knowledge with inclusive, sustainable technologies to achieve women's empowerment and sustainable menstrual hygiene management. The study is based on primary data gathered in Tamil Nadu using a mixed qualitative methodology that included focus group discussions (8 FGDs), in-depth interviews (n = 36), and a structured survey (n = 320), all conducted in rural, semi-urban, and urban settings. Women prefer comfortable hygiene products, easy disposal methods, and engaging awareness programmes from educational institutions and healthcare systems on MHM. The study's outcomes reveal that, especially in locations where access and affordability are limited, menstrual decisions are still influenced by indigenous practices and regionally established information. Cooperative-led programs and institutional awareness campaigns support reusable pads and biodegradable items and are examples of inclusive technologies that are more widely embraced. The study makes the point that policy frameworks that integrate inclusive technology into institutional and cooperative structures and value indigenous knowledge as a valuable resource are important for sustainable MHM. The paper illustrates policy frameworks that integrate inclusive technologies into institutional and cooperative structures and acknowledge indigenous understanding as a valuable resource, both of which are mandatory for sustainable MHM. It is in line with the SDGs 3, 5, 12, and 13.
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📚 How to Cite:
Dr.B.Tamilmani, J.Peninnah , ROLE OF INDIGENOUS WISDOM AND TECHNOLOGIES IN SUSTAINABLE MENSTRUAL HYGIENE MANAGEMENT IN RURAL TAMIL NADU , Volume 12 , Issue 8, August 2026, EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR) , Pages: 853 - 856 , DOI: https://doi.org/10.36713/epra28930