Nayan Chatrariya

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Nayan Chatrariya

Art Teacher, Social Reformer & Padman of Gujarat
Nationality Indian
State Gujarat
District Banaskantha
Occupation Art Teacher, Social Reformer, Filmmaker
Known for Padman of Gujarat, Free Sanitary Pad Parab, Menstrual Hygiene Awareness
Years active 2000s–present (Teaching), 2022–present (Social Reform)
Instagram @nayanchatrariya_anchor

Nayan Chatrariya, widely recognised as the "Padman of Gujarat," is an Indian Art Teacher, social reformer, filmmaker and community leader from Gujarat. He has dedicated more than two decades to education and community service, and since January 2022 he has been continuously working to create awareness about menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls across rural Gujarat.

Through his pioneering initiatives, Nayan Chatrariya has reached more than 512 villages, educated and interacted with more than one lakh adolescent girls, and distributed more than 5 lakh sanitary pads free of cost, with the total value of distributed sanitary pads exceeding ₹19 lakh. He is also the founder of the World's First Free Sanitary Pad Parab.

Early Life and Background

Nayan Chatrariya is from Banaskantha district in the state of Gujarat, India. He has built his career as an Art Teacher and has been actively involved in the education sector for more than two decades. Coming from a teaching background, he developed a strong belief that the responsibility of an educator extends beyond the classroom into the wider community.

Career

Nayan Chatrariya has served as an Art Teacher for over twenty years. His school functions during the morning shift, and he generally completes his teaching responsibilities by around 1:00 PM on working days. He maintains regular attendance at school and avoids taking leave without a genuine reason, ensuring that his responsibilities as a teacher are never compromised because of his social mission.

After completing his school duties, he dedicates his afternoons and evenings to travelling to different villages and conducting menstrual hygiene awareness programmes and sanitary pad distribution drives. He also utilises his vacation periods extensively for social outreach, spending nearly 30 days during summer vacation and nearly 20 days during Diwali vacation to reach remote and underserved rural communities.

Rural Outreach Achievement: From January 2022 to 1 August 2026, Nayan Chatrariya has conducted menstrual hygiene awareness and sanitary pad distribution initiatives across 512 villages. His outreach has focused particularly on rural and underserved communities, where he works to promote awareness about menstrual hygiene and access to sanitary products. The initiative remains ongoing, with Chatrariya continuing to visit villages and expand his social outreach beyond the 512 villages already covered.

Art Teacher: Swastik Education Campus, Palanpur.

Co-Ordinator: Swastik Art Academy, Palanpur.

Founder & Chairman: Sanskruti Art Foundation, Palanpur.

Social Reform and Menstrual Hygiene Mission

Since January 2022, Nayan Chatrariya has been working continuously on a mission to create awareness about menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls, particularly those living in rural and underserved communities across Gujarat.

His programmes combine menstrual hygiene education with free sanitary pad distribution, helping girls gain knowledge as well as access to essential hygiene products. He interacts directly with adolescent girls and conducts awareness sessions covering menstrual hygiene, health, cleanliness, dignity and the importance of having correct information about menstruation.

His mission has now reached more than 512 villages across Gujarat and more than one lakh adolescent girls. Along with awareness programmes, he has distributed more than 5 lakh sanitary pads free of cost, with a total value exceeding ₹19 lakh.

World's First Free Sanitary Pad Parab

One of the most distinctive initiatives conceptualised and initiated by Nayan Chatrariya is the World's First Free Sanitary Pad Parab. This unique social initiative is focused on ensuring that girls can access menstrual hygiene products free of cost while also receiving awareness about menstrual health, hygiene and dignity.

The initiative is based on a simple but powerful belief: no girl should be deprived of menstrual hygiene because of financial limitations. The Free Sanitary Pad Parab goes beyond the distribution of sanitary pads by bringing together awareness, education, accessibility and dignity in a community-focused initiative. It aims to encourage open and informed conversations about menstruation, remove hesitation and misconceptions surrounding menstrual health, and help adolescent girls manage their periods with greater confidence.

Filmmaking and Creative Communication

Nayan Chatrariya has used filmmaking and creative communication as tools for social awareness. Under his direction, a short film was produced for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and Plastic-Free India Short Film Competition organised by Palanpur Municipality. The film secured First Prize and received a cash award of ₹25,000, presented by MLA Aniket Thakar and Palanpur Municipality President Chimanbhai Solanki.

He also directed a Traffic Awareness short film promoting road safety. The film was officially launched by Banaskantha District Superintendent of Police Akshayraj Makwana and received a State-Level Award along with a cash prize of ₹5,000.

Awards and Recognition

Nayan Chatrariya has received multiple recognitions for his contribution to education, social service and public health:

  • District Honour (2024) - On International Women's Day 2024, he was honoured by Banaskantha District Collector Mr. Varun Kumar Baranwal (IAS) for his efforts in creating menstrual health awareness among girls.
  • Best National Teacher Award 2025 - Awarded by Divya Bhaskar after being selected among 40 teachers from more than 36,000 educators across India.
  • Shreshth Shikshak Sanman Award 2025 - Presented by India's Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan.
  • Health Icon Award 2026 - Presented by Gujarat Health Minister Shri Praful Panseriya in recognition of his contribution to public health, social service and menstrual hygiene awareness.

Skills and Expertise

Nayan Chatrariya is recognised for his expertise in:

  • Art Education and Teaching
  • Social Reform and Community Leadership
  • Menstrual Hygiene Awareness Campaigns
  • Filmmaking and Visual Storytelling
  • Public Health Advocacy
  • Event and Initiative Management

Online Presence

Personal Life and Philosophy

Nayan Chatrariya firmly believes that the responsibility of a teacher does not end when the school bell rings. According to his philosophy, an educator should contribute to the development of society by spreading awareness about health, dignity, values and social responsibility.

His identity as the Padman of Gujarat has emerged from his sustained efforts to educate adolescent girls about menstrual hygiene and to make sanitary products accessible to girls who may face financial or social barriers. His journey demonstrates how education can become a powerful instrument for social transformation.

See Also

References

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