Koili Barik, an elder woman from Kali Mandir Basti in Ward 46, shared her concerns through the IVRS platform about an open drain in front of her house. Due to the drain being filled with garbage, water cannot flow easily, causing the drain to overflow and wastewater enters into the households. This situation has led to mosquito breeding and the wastewater creates very unhygienic conditions in the surrounding, it’s need for urgent attention from the BMC to address this issue. After the drain is cleaned, she and her neighbors are willing to take care of it voluntarily to prevent from future problems.
Rajani Padiari, a single woman from Pandakudia in Ward 22, has been seeking the government's attention for a monthly pension through IVRS , she applied for this many days ago, her request has not been recognized by the authorities. As a single woman with limited resources, she expressed the importance of pensions for her daily survival. She earnestly requests the government to review her application.
Rinki Naik, a woman from Pandakudia, Ward 22, registered feedback on IVRS about the irregular timing of the garbage collection vehicle in her area. Due to the vehicle's inconsistency, households preferred to dump waste near the Hanuman temple. Unfortunately, this dumped waste is not cleared by any waste collection service, leading to mosquito breeding and bad smell. During this heavy heatwave, it is impossible for residents to sit near the temple in the evening to enjoy some natural wind, due to the mosquitoes and the unpleasant odor. Which needs to be cleaned.
Nalini Singh, from Cluster 6, Ward 22, shared through IVRS that previously, community members used tubewells for domestic purposes. After the government provided a water supply, the community stopped using the tubewells, which eventually broke down. Now, there is no alternative water source aside from the government-supplied water in times of disaster and flooding. Additionally, there are instances when the supply water is stopped due to maintenance, leaving the community dependent solely on the supplied water, which hampers their daily work.
Barsha Singh from Ward 22 shared her concerns on IVRS regarding the non-collection of garbage by the garbage collected vehicle. She shared that household garbage was being dumped at the roadside due to the irregular of vehicle. Unfortunately, the roadside garbage was also not being lifted, leading to unhygienic conditions, because used sanitary napkins were being dragged by street dogs.so the community need for regular and efficient waste collection services from BMC.
Madhusmita Mallik, a woman from Upara Sahi, Ward 46, shared her feedback in IVRS about her menstrual hygiene practices and the support she receives from her family. She mentioned that she, like many others, gets her period monthly. During this time, her family members, including her husband and mother-in-law, provide support. There are no stigmas or restrictions such as not entering the house or avoiding contact with others for three days. She is free from all these limitations and is encouraged by her mother-in-law to rest during her period and her husband and mother-in-law manage the whole household work. She openly discusses her period with her family and asks her husband to bring pads when needed. She feels completely free to express her menstrual needs in front of everyone. She regularly changes her pads and ensures proper handwashing with soap before and after using a pad.
Archana Mohanty, an adolescent girl from Mangala Sahi, Ward 38, shared her voice in IVRS about her menstrual health. She mentioned her period is regular with a 28-day gap. During her menstrual cycle, ensures to maintain proper hygiene and a nutritious diet. She expressed the importance of these practices to stay healthy and well-balanced. She shares with other adolescents in her community to prioritize their menstrual health and hygiene.
Bangi Hasda, a woman from Kalinga Bihar, shared on IVRS that periods are the beginning of motherhood. She explained that menstruation starts during the adolescent period of every girl and is a natural process gifted from God, It is important to maintain personal hygiene during this period. When she is on her period, she takes care of herself for the first five days, changing her pads three times a day. If using the cotton pads, then she ensures to dry in heavy sunlight to prevent wet conditions and prevent from infections. She believes that with proper self-care, menstruation can be managed without pain and can be handled just like any other day. Her practical advice and positive outlook encourage others to menstruate with care and confidence.
Mani Das, an elderly resident from Sakaleswar Basti, Ward 22, shared on IVRS the challenges faced by their settlement due to the lack of a drainage system. Without drainage, rainwater cannot flow easily, leading to waterlogging and stagnant water, and the water gets contaminated, which in turn causes waterborne diseases. Each household has a tank to store wastewater, but this is only a temporary solution if the government provides a drainage facility, it would benefit 175 households in the settlement, significantly helping to improve their living conditions and sanitation.
A podcast was conducted on “End of Silence-Period power” where MSF member, ICDS supervisor from the Women and Child Development department, a representative of a UN organization, a representative from the adolescent forum, a physically challenged girl, a Trans man, a tribal woman, and a sanitary worker came together to openly discussed establishing a “climate-resilient period friendly world by 2030” where everyone has access to quality menstrual products, period education and gender-inclusive period friendly toilets for normal days and during extreme weather.