ISC Compendium 2025
Menstruation is a natural part of life for nearly 393 million women in India. The stigma still exists and the management of menstrual waste has emerged as a pressing public health and environmental challenge of our time. With an estimated 175 million people relying primarily on single-use sanitary pads, the country generates close to 16.8 billion pads each year. Most of these are plastic-rich and non-biodegradable, and when discarded unsafely-whether in open spaces, water bodies, or through low-temperature burning-they compromise environmental health, and undermine the dignity of women and girls.
Over the last decade, India's sanitation journey has been extraordinary. The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), now in its second phase, has taken the country from addressing the challenge of open defecation to the larger ambition of Sampoorn Swachhata, encompassing sustainable management of both solid and liquid waste. The Jal Jeevan Mission has brought tap water to over 15 crore rural households, transforming the daily lives of millions of women and girls. Ministries across health, education, women and child development, and water and sanitation have advanced menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) initiatives, ensuring that women and girls have access not only to toilets and water but also to safe, affordable products and reliable information. States toothrough pioneering schemes such as Khushi in Odisha and Asmita Plus in Maharashtra-have added further momentum. Together, these efforts reflect a national commitment to making sanitation inclusive, equitable, and responsive to the needs of all, with menstrual healthfirmly part of the agenda.
This year's compendium, developed in collaboration with our Knowledge Partner Menstrual Health Action for Impact (MHAi), brings a sharp focus to menstrual waste management-an issue long overlooked but increasingly urgent. The compendium moves beyond alarming statistics to highlight the innovative local initiatives that are paving pathways toward sustainable solutions. The 2025 edition presents 26 case studies from across the
