Under Clean India Mission (Rural), women self-help groups are supplying sanitary napkins at low cost in girls hostels and ashrams to create awareness towards menstrual hygiene among women and teenage girls.
Sanitary napkin supply is turning out to be a better business opportunity for women in rural areas and has become a medium for their financial empowerment.
On World Menstrual Hygiene Day i.e. 28 May, National Rural Livelihood Mission had provided Rs1 lakh each to 10 women self-help groups of the district to procure high-quality biodegradable sanitary napkins at low cost. These sanitary napkins are being sold by women self-help groups to women and teenage girls in villages.
The self-help groups are also creating awareness about menstrual hygiene and advantages of using sanitary napkins. This has resulted in significant decrease in number of cases of infections, uterus cancer and pregnancy related complications. Attendance of girl students in schools has also improved, as informed by the women of Gram Sangathan. Women and girls are also being made aware of the importance of using biodegradable and eco-friendly sanitary napkins and their safe disposal.
Inspired by the initiative, other self-help groups have also started procuring sanitary napkins at their own expense, to sell these in rural areas.