Sunita Sil

Sunita Sil, a 23-year-old climate practitioner from Wandoor village in South Andaman, is working at the intersection of waste management, menstrual health, and community awareness in fragile island ecosystems. A Political Science graduate from IGNOU and currently a Youth Ambassador with ANET, Dakshin Foundation, she combines grassroots engagement with creative communication, designing IEC materials to make sustainability conversations more accessible and impactful. Her work actively involves schools, SHGs, and Panchayat members to build long-term, community-led solutions.

Sunita worked on a research-driven initiative in Mathura Village, as a part of her NYCC Climate Champions Fellowship, addressing the often-overlooked issue of menstrual waste management. Through a door-to-door survey with 144 women and adolescent girls, she documented disposal practices, awareness gaps, and challenges, building a strong local evidence base. She complemented this with interactive awareness sessions using waste segregation games and demonstrations to highlight the environmental and health impacts of disposable sanitary products, while introducing sustainable alternatives.

Building on this work, Sunita is now using her report on sustainable menstrual practices in the Andaman Islands to advocate for systemic change, while continuing her efforts to empower communities, especially women and youth, to adopt eco-friendly practices.