In a round table held today in Bhopal, Anju Bist, Managing Director of Saukhyam Reusable Pads, also known as the" Pad Woman"of India, emphasized the need for sustainable menstrual hygiene in Madhya Pradesh. The conference addressed the environmental impact of disposable sanitary pads and advocated for the use of reusable pads made from organic materials, particularly the innovative Saukhyam Reusable Pads made from banana fiber.
Saukhyam is an initiative of the Mata Amritanandamayi Math. It has received several notable awards including the Women Transforming India award from NITI Aayog and Impact Innovation Challenge Awardat the 2024 IIT Global Conference. Amma, Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, started Saukhyam so that menstruators have a safe product to manage menses that does not pollute. It is now well-documented that most brand s of disposable sanitary napkins have dangerous chemicals harmful for our health.
To spread awareness and promote sustainable menstrual hygiene practices, Saukhyam in collaboration with State Rural Livelihood Mission Ajeevika has trained more than 100 rural women in production, distribution and sales of these innovative reusable sanitary napkins. Saukhyam aligns with the One District, One Product initiative of the Burhanpur District Administration which has a focus on promoting products made from the banana tree.
"We are happy that a wholesome product for the menstrual health of our women and girls could be introduced to thousands of rural beneficiaries in our state and we feel proud that Burhanpur is emerging as the production hub for this project,"stated Burhanpur District Collector, Bhavya Mittal, IAS.
"The product has a proven track record of benefits in the fields of health and environment, provided for t is taken to make it a part of our daily lives. We look forward to these benefits reaching lakhs and lakhs of women in the times to come," added Kedar Singh, IAS, CEO - MP State Rural Livelihood Mission.
Representatives from CAF India, MP Tourism Board and Absolute Gramya also spoke, outlining their plans for taking forward this sustainability initiative in Madhya Pradesh. India's adoption of ISO standards for reusable sanitary pads (IS 17514:2021) signals a growing recognition of the need for sustainable menstrual hygiene products. Praveen Bist, CIO of Amrita Hospitals noted, "Reusable menstrual pads areclearly an idea whose time has come. For young students in colleges, schools and communities, they are the best way to make menstrual hygiene solutions accessible and affordable."
Saukhyam Reusable Pads, lasting upto three years, have gained popularity among more than 500,000 women and girls in India and internationally using them. This shift is helping prevent the emission of4000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually. An estimated 43,750 tons of non-biodegradable menstrual waste has also been eliminated.
