Breaking Taboos, Dispelling Myths

A strong desire to disrupt the negativity surrounding menstrual health in India drove Advaitesha Birla’s early start as a Socio-preneur. At 18, she set up Ujaas, a nonprofit organisation that is actively championing women’s menstrual hygiene and creating a sustainable impact in the health and hygiene management sector.

- Nisha Nair Rachna Virdi

She is the new face of India's socio-preneurship. At an age when others are barely stepping out of the rebellious teenage phase-uncertain of what the future holds for them-Advaitesha Birla is working towards solving menstrual health issues in the hope of making India free of period' shaming. She broke out of her cocoon at 18 years of age to emerge as a new sociopreneur of India, creating an impact with her social initiative of fostering menstrual health.

But then, Advaitesha Birla has no ordinary roots. She belongs to the illustrious Birla family and is the youngest daughter of leading industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla (Chairman, Aditya Birla Group) and Neerja Birla (Chairperson, Aditya Birla Education Trust). With a strong lineage, the young girl harboured the passion to make an early start. Taking inspiration from her family’s social initiatives, she believed that it is one’s duty to give back to society and empower the less fortunate humans.

Changing the perception