Chennai: In a bid to create a source of income for the inmates at Institute of Mental Health (IMH), Kilpauk, Lennox International, a US-based company, donated a sanitary pad making machine for the female enclosure Wednesday.
IMH director, Dr Poorna Chandrika, said, “The training to make sanitary napkins was provided by the Directorate of Public Health and at present, around 10 women inmates work there.”
The director initiated the move last December and decided to approach companies to tap their corporate social responsibility (CSR) schemes. “It is a sustainable development where the inmates get paid and their health improves over time,” she said.
“The product is made with cotton tissues and five pads can be made with the machine at one go,’ added Dr Poorna.
Previously, the napkins are supplied by the government and now with the facility, the director hopes to meet the internal requirements and also take orders.