Menstrupedia wins Laadli media award

The comic book, Menstrupedia, which explains menstruation to children in a format that they can relate to, was among the winners at the National Laadli Media and Advertising Awards for gender sensitivity, held at the National Centre for the Performing Arts on Wednesday.

The book aims to dispel the myth around the subject of menstruation. “I think the issue behind menstruation is that we, as a nation, relate to it sexually, instead of a natural phenomenon,” said the brand manager of Menstrupedia after receiving the award.

Awards were presented to the winners from the southern and western regions along with national-level winners in the print, advertising, books, theatre, and feature films categories. Awardees include Himmat Kataria for his Gujarati feature,

Vyangbaan Ni Maari: Naari that deals with the projection of women in comedy, satire, and humour. Annam Suresh’s feature titled

Of anklets and shackles highlights the stigma faced by the transgenders in Uttar Pradesh.

Ninety-one-year-old choreographer and fashion designer Jeannie Naoroji was presented with a lifetime achievement award.

Organised by the Population First and the UNFPA, the Laadli awards showcased stories on issues considered as taboo, or reported insensitively.

AL Sharada, Director of Population First, said it was the media’s responsibility to be the conscience-keeper of gender sensitivity. “The real question is whether we are going to let gender movement move in its own direction, or we are going to intervene and ensure that it stays on the right path. This is what we strive to do.”

Films such as Dum Laga Ke Hayesha and Margarita with a Straw were awarded in the film category, and Rajkumar Rao was present to receive an award on behalf of Aligarh that dealt with the struggles of homosexuality.