Palanpur, Gujarat | August 2026
Education can create change far beyond the boundaries of a classroom. For Nayan Chatrariya, an Art Teacher from Palanpur, Gujarat, teaching has evolved into a wider social mission focused on menstrual hygiene awareness, adolescent health, dignity and community education.
Known as the “Padman of Gujarat,” Chatrariya has been working on menstrual hygiene awareness since January 2022, with a particular focus on adolescent girls in rural and underserved communities across Gujarat. According to figures shared as part of his campaign, his initiative has reached 512+ villages, educated more than one lakh adolescent girls and distributed over five lakh sanitary pads free of cost.
From Teacher to Menstrual Hygiene Awareness Activist
With more than two decades of experience in education, Nayan Chatrariya believes that the role of a teacher extends beyond academic instruction. His social initiatives bring together education, healthcare awareness, community service and youth empowerment.
While continuing his responsibilities as an Art Teacher, Chatrariya dedicates time after school, during weekends and throughout school vacations to travelling to communities and conducting menstrual hygiene awareness programmes.
His approach is based on a simple principle: menstrual health should be discussed through knowledge, awareness and dignity, rather than silence or embarrassment.
“Menstrual hygiene is not just a health issue. It is also a matter of education, dignity and equality.”
Reaching Rural Communities Across Gujarat
Since beginning his menstrual hygiene awareness mission in January 2022, Chatrariya has concentrated significant attention on rural areas where access to information and menstrual hygiene products can be limited.
According to campaign figures shared by Chatrariya, the initiative has achieved the following milestones:
- 512+ villages covered across Gujarat
- 1 lakh+ adolescent girls reached and educated
- 5 lakh+ sanitary pads distributed free of cost
- Continuous awareness initiatives since January 2022
For Chatrariya, these numbers represent individual stories rather than simply campaign statistics. Each awareness session provides an opportunity for girls to learn more about menstrual health, hygiene practices and the importance of discussing health-related concerns without hesitation.
The Free Sanitary Pad Parab Initiative
A distinctive initiative associated with Nayan Chatrariya is the Free Sanitary Pad Parab, launched in Palanpur on 19 August 2025, on the occasion of his birthday.
The initiative emerged around a practical question: what happens when a girl unexpectedly needs a sanitary pad?
The concept seeks to make sanitary pads available free of cost in accessible community settings, helping reduce the discomfort and uncertainty that can arise during unexpected situations.
Beyond distribution, the initiative is intended to encourage a more open approach to menstruation by treating menstrual hygiene as a normal health requirement rather than a subject that should be surrounded by shame.
Making Menstrual Health a Community Conversation
Menstrual hygiene is closely connected with education, health, confidence and participation in everyday life. For adolescent girls, access to appropriate information and hygiene products can be an important part of managing menstruation with dignity.
Chatrariya’s work focuses on combining awareness with accessibility. Rather than limiting his efforts to product distribution, he uses educational interactions to encourage girls and communities to discuss menstrual health more openly.
The broader objective is to create an environment in which girls can ask questions, seek information and approach menstrual health as a normal aspect of growing up.
A Teacher Who Continues His Mission After School
One of the defining aspects of Chatrariya’s journey is his decision to continue social work alongside his teaching profession.
His regular school responsibilities remain an important part of his professional life, while his afternoons, evenings, weekends and vacations are used for community outreach.
During summer and Diwali vacations, he has travelled to remote and underserved areas to continue menstrual hygiene awareness activities.
This combination of teaching and social service reflects his belief that education does not stop when the school day ends.
Recognition for Social and Educational Contributions
Nayan Chatrariya’s work in education, public awareness and community service has also received several recognitions, according to his profile.
Among the honours associated with his journey are recognition on World Women’s Day 2024 from Banaskantha District Collector Varun Kumar Baranwal (IAS) for menstrual health awareness initiatives.
He has also been associated with award-winning short-film initiatives. A short film produced under his direction reportedly received First Prize in a Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and Plastic-Free India competition, along with a cash award of ₹25,000.
Another traffic-awareness short film directed by him was launched by Banaskantha District Superintendent of Police Aksharaj Makwana and received a state-level award and cash prize.
In 2025, he was reportedly recognised with the Best National Teacher Award, after being selected among 40 teachers from more than 36,000 educators, as stated in his profile. He also received the Shreshth Shikshak Sanman Award 2025, presented by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
In 2026, Chatrariya was honoured with the Health Icon Award 2026 by Gujarat Health Minister Praful Panseriya for his contribution to public health and menstrual hygiene awareness.
Connecting Art, Education and Social Change
Chatrariya’s professional identity began with art education. As an Art Teacher, his work has involved creative disciplines including painting, music, singing and acting.
He believes creative education can contribute to confidence, empathy and broader social awareness among students. That perspective has gradually extended into his community initiatives.
His journey demonstrates how an educator’s skills can be applied beyond conventional teaching environments to address real-world social issues.
More Than a Sanitary Pad
At the centre of Chatrariya’s mission is the belief that menstrual hygiene represents more than access to a hygiene product.
For a young girl, appropriate menstrual education can mean greater confidence in managing her health. For families, open conversations can reduce misinformation. For communities, better awareness can contribute to a more supportive environment for adolescent girls.
This is why his initiatives place emphasis on both education and access.
The objective is not simply to distribute sanitary pads, but to encourage a culture in which menstruation can be discussed responsibly and without unnecessary stigma.
The Road Ahead
After reaching hundreds of villages and more than one lakh adolescent girls, Chatrariya’s mission continues to focus on expanding menstrual hygiene awareness across rural Gujarat.
His future vision includes reaching additional villages, engaging with schools and communities, expanding awareness programmes and developing accessible support systems for girls and women.
His message remains straightforward: no girl should feel ashamed of menstruation, and no girl should feel helpless simply because she needs a sanitary pad.
Nayan Chatrariya – Padman of Gujarat
From Palanpur to rural communities across Gujarat, Nayan Chatrariya’s journey represents an effort to take education beyond textbooks and into everyday life.
As an Art Teacher, social worker and menstrual hygiene awareness activist, he continues to combine education, public health awareness and community engagement to address an issue that affects millions of girls and women.
His story demonstrates that social change does not always begin with a large institution. Sometimes, it begins with a teacher who recognises a problem, starts a conversation and continues showing up—one school, one village and one community at a time.
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