unhygienic huts lacking doors, toilets, and basic amenities. Rooted in centuries-old taboos, the practice treats menstruation as impure, forcing women to live in harsh conditions, often without proper food or sanitary care. Despite a 2015 National Human Rights Commission ban, traditions persist, as many women feel bound by religious and cultural customs.

NGOs like Making The Difference, SPARSH, and Kherwadi Social Welfare Association are stepping in to transform these huts. One revamped kurma ghar now has beds, toilets, electricity, a kitchen, yoga room, TV, and skill training in gardening and sewing. Awareness campaigns, hygiene kits, and helplines have reached over 30,000 women across Gadchiroli.

These initiatives provide safety, dignity, and opportunities while preserving cultural traditions. Women can now stay together without fear, attend school, and learn skills. By challenging stigma through dialogue and education, these changemakers are proving that culture and women’s safety can coexist, rewriting centuries-old norms and giving a voice to the previously silenced.