Sanitary Napkins
Akshay Kumar starrer "Padman" seems to have an inspired people throughout the length and breadth of the country to come forward for producing sanitary napkins for the women.
There had been many industry and communities involved in the making of sanitary napkins but after the release of "Padman", it gained a steam and people became more aware of its use.
Since February this year, tribal women have been producing sanitary napkins which is distributed free to the students of tribal welfare hostels and ashram schools in Telangana.
They have been running four small units that produces these sanitary napkins.
Now, the region is set to get four more sanitary napkin production units, thanks to the demand for pads among young women in the adivasi community.
Currently they are running units in Bhadrachalam, Utnoor, Mannanur and Eturnagaram, with a collective production capacity of 6,000 to 7,000 pads per month. They are expecting to increase the production of napkins to 40,000 per quarter.
Christina Z. Chongthu, Commissioner, Tribal Welfare, has already consulted with the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) to support the proposed units.
The napkins are supplied to women in the tribal community who live in the tribal areas near each manufacturing unit.
62% of women use cloth instead of sanitary pads, says the report of the National Family Health Survey. Women are found to be using cloth or ash for menstrual protection.
Therefore in order to get rid of this unhygienic way, the tribal community set up the pad-making units to support adolescent girls and young women enrolled in schools.
The four existing units will also undergo a technological upgrade, once the funds are sanctioned. It also provides jobs to around 30 women in each unit.
