Adeli is a word used in Gujarat (a state in India) for women who are menstruating. Adeli means touched, unclean, possessed or stained. These women referred to as ‘Adeli’ are banned from entering commercial and household kitchens.

Many of these women are daily wage workers in commercial kitchens like restaurants, schools, temples and food factories. They are forced to take leave during their periods resulting in up to 21% loss in monthly income.

Unipads, a reusable sanitary pad brand wanted to change this and erase the taboo associated with women cooking and working while menstruating. While advocating for these daily wage earners the brand wanted to change this practice followed by the food industry.

The food industry including restaurants, school kitchens, food factories ban women from entering kitchen during periods. Most women in rural Gujarat work in commercial kitchens or as house staff because of lack of education and skills. This practice is not just discriminatory but also results in up to 21% loss in monthly income. This taboo leaves a big impact on the economical stability and development of women as this has a huge bearing in the lives of these daily wage earners. This taboo is an an age-old custom that is prevalent in the society. And is also observed because of religious reasons. Religious gurus have even gone on television to state that women who cook while menstruating will be re-born as a ‘kutri’ (dog) in the next life.

Unipads created the most taboo restaurant that debunked an age-old prejudice and launched a movement called Adeli. Menstruating women were invited to cook for the very first time. A special menu of curated taboo dishes were cooked and served by menstruating women recruited through newspaper ads and community radio. Politicians, restaurant owners, change-makers, and community leaders dined and became a part of this movement. It was covered by the news media on Women’s Day to raise awareness around this issue. 5 different NGOs also helped add to the conversation. This forced people to ask their favourite restaurants if they allowed menstruating women to cook. 300+ restaurants appealed to The National Restaurant Association to create guidelines and protect the rights of menstruating women to enter the kitchen and cook. A legal support helpline was also created for women to report any employer discriminating.

The Adeli initiative was designed to reach the community at large so the change in culture can be accepted, and the taboo be eradicated.

We started this conversation with the help of 5 different NGO’s working at grassroot levels. We also used community radio to reach 700k-900k people in the region.

To make an impact in the food industry and help change the practice we reached out to restaurant owners, politicians, change-makers and people with voice in the community.

Board members of the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India, Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India), National Restaurant Association of India, Heritage Hotel Association, International Hotel & Restaurant Association, and Ahmedabad Hotel Restaurant Association were brought onboard to help make the change.

1000+ businesses like restaurants in the region, schools, temples and food factories were reached out to, while the restaurant association helped involve 5000+ additional member restaurants.

On Women’s Day, the initiative was launched in association with Nini’s Kitchen – a leading restaurant chain in the region. Menstruating women cooked for the very first time. Taboo dishes were served to politicians, restaurant owners and influencers who dined and became a part of this movement.

BBC, VTV, Mirror and other media helped spread the word. With the initiative spreading, restaurant association helped involve its 5000+ members.

Started with one restaurant on Women’s Day, till date (8th April) 1400+ businesses have joined this initiative to bring a change to the lives of these daily wage earners.

The Ministry of labour, skill and employment was involved to ask stakeholders in the food-industry to stop this practice. The speaker of the legislative also encouraged this initiative as an important step in empowering women financially.

1400+ businesses pledged to stop this discrimination.

5000+ National Restaurant Association of India members are now taking steps to protect the right of menstruating women in kitchens.

Federation of Hotel, Hotel Association (Western India), National Restaurant Association of India, Heritage Hotel Association, International Hotel & Restaurant Association, and Ahmedabad Hotel Restaurant Association have joined the conversation.

The Ministry of labour, skill and employment asked stakeholders in the food-industry to stop this practice. The speaker of the legislative assembly encouraged this initiative to empower women economically.

Akshay Patra, an organization serving 5 million+ meals daily has joined the initiative.

On Women’s Day alone the initiative reached millions of people – impressions include: BBC(420k) VTV(120K) 108.7 Nazariya(400k). Leading newspapers and portals like Mirror, Divya Bhaskar, NavGujaratSamay, Prabhat, Zee5, APN, Indian BusinessLine, EDTimes, ConnectGujarat, Sugarmint, Navjeevan Express.

These results are from the first 2 months only, more businesses are being reached out.