Rural Areas

Hanaru's rural Ambassadors work in various terrains, from lowlands with rice paddies in West Bengal to the mountainous areas of the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR).

West Bengal is highly flood-prone due to its geographical location and river systems. The state faces frequent flooding mainly during the heavy monsoon rains. The IHR is also prone to flooding in the wet season and this area can suffer earthquakes and frequent landslides.

Treed hills with snowy mountains in background.

Mountains with stepped agricultural land

Himachal Pradesh.

Rajasthan.

West Bengal.

Darjeeling.

Distribution Challenges

Each area has its own distribution challenges for the Ambassadors.

in Rajasthan, temperatures between 37.8°C (100°F) and 46.1°C (115°F) [1] regularly occur throughout the summer.

From Rajasthan, Pooja writes: “The weather is very harsh here—it's an extremely hot and dry summer. I started the distribution early in the morning to avoid the peak hours of the hot afternoons. I visited schools, but students weren’t there because summer vacations are about to start next week. I went to the homes of the young girls and also met their families for the distribution.”

Ambassador Pooja talking to four girls seated on rock.

12 girls holding up washable sanitary napkins.

Looking through school gate at school Pink paint pealing off walls.

Pooja talking to girls in school holidays.

Girls who received napkin packs in the school holidays.

School in Nalu village where Pooja distributed napkin packs.

The roads in the IHR can be challenging to drive on and road closures due to landslides are common. Many roads are single-lane and can be closed in winter and monsoon seasons.

In October 2022 over 4,500 villages in Himachal Pradesh didn't have road access [2]. So if Ambassadors are going to one of these schools, they have to leave their transport at the start of the nearest track and then carry the napkin packs to the school. The paths can be very uneven and overgrown. In some places, they are very steep and steps have been carved into the hillside.

Pooja with large bag going down steep path.

Pooja talking to local women in traditional dress.

Pooja walking on the track to GSSS Pressi.

Road going through a village in Himachal Pradesh

School Distribution visits

In this section, we'll look at a few schools where the Ambassadors and Kayoko have distributed napkin packs.

The front entrance of GSSS Pressi in Himachal Pradesh.

GSSS Chandyara in Himachal Pradesh surrounded by trees.

Two schools in the IHR

In Himachal Pradesh, Pooja C and Kayoko went to two Government State Secondary schools (GSSS) that didn't have any access by road.

In theory, there is an all-weather road to GSSS Chandyara. However, a landslide in 2023 swept away part of this road, so students walked on footpaths to reach the school.

Pooja C and Kayoko had a 40-minute walk along rough footpaths to reach GSSS Pressi. Pooja carries all the napkin packs there in a huge bag.

These schools don't have any computers or computer-assisted learning, they do have libraries with 334 books in Chandyara and 1,442 books in GSSS Pressi.

GSSS Pressi

GSSS Chandyara

About 20 girls in classroom holding up napkin packs. with Pooja.

About 12 girls in classroom holding up napkin packs.

Section of bare earth carved out of mountain. Girls playing volleyball.side with

Sports play area at GSSS Chandyara

Some of the girls at GSSS Chandyara who received napkin packs with their teacher

Some of the girls at GSSS Pressi who received napkin packs

Around 200 bikes leaning against school building.

Two schools in rural West Bengal

Kayoko visited two schools in rural West Bengal to distribute napkin packs. The rural roads are full of potholes so it can take a long time to travel a short distance. Children living further from the schools often cycle there.

These schools only have hand pumps for drinking water, but like many schools in India, they cook a free lunch for the children on the premises.

Bikes at Kalidaha Gohaldaha R.M. High

GHS Shyampur Dwa'ka Nath Balika IV

Large classroom of girls holding up napkin packs. with teachers

As with the two schools in IHR, these schools don't have any computers or computer-assisted learning, they do have libraries with 250 books in GHS Shyampur Dwa'ka Nath Balika IV [5] and 1,605 books in Kalidaha Gohaldaha R.M. High [6].

In GHS Shyampur Dwa'ka Nath Balika IV over 600 girls are sharing the 3 toilets at the school [7].

Kalidaha Gohaldaha R.M. High.

Girls who received napkin packs.

Kalidaha Gohaldaha R.M. High.

Large classroom of girls holding p washable napkin packs..

Kalidaha Gohaldaha R.M. High. with pond and trees.

Toilets in rural schools

Girls attending rural schools can have better access to toilets than the girls who go to schools in Delhi near the slums.

The photos show toilets in schools in Himachal Pradesh.

Small yellow toilet block with 3 blue doors.

Small yellow toilet in block with blue door ajar.

Small basin with single tap on yellow wall.

Squat toilet with tiles on floor and walls..

[1] Climate and monthly weather forecast India, https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/india-climate, viewed on 08/01/25

[2] 25% villages have no road link in Himachal Pradesh, https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/25-villages-have-no-road-link-in-himachal-pradesh-437941, viewed on 10/01/25

[3] GHS Chandyara https://schools.org.in/mandi/02051606102/ghs-chandyara.html, viewed on 10/01/25

[4] GSSS Pressi, https://schools.org.in/mandi/02051610902/gsss-pressi.html, viewed on 10/01/25

[5] GHS Shyampur Dwa'ka Nath Balika VI, https://schools.org.in/haora/19161005901/shyampur-dwa-ka-nath-balika-vi.html, viewed on 10/01/25

[6] Kalidaha Gohaldaha R.M. High, https://schools.org.in/haora/19161009204/kalidaha-gohaldaha-r-m-high.html, viewed on 10/01/25

[7] Stackschools, https://stackschools.com/schools/19161005901/shyampur-dwaka-nath-balika-vi, 17/01/25