ChennaI : Anju Bist, co-Director of Amrita Self Reliant Village Program run by Mata Amritanandamayi Math said that India needs a mass shift to reusable options to ensure affordable and sustainable menstrual hygiene for all. The disposable pads currently in vogue are not only unaffordable for most women, they are also an environmental disaster in the making,” she added. Known as the âPad Woman of India,â she is the person behind the award-winning Saukhyam menstrual pads made of cloth and banana fibre.
Earlier this year, Niti Aayog selected Saukhyam for its flagship Women Transforming India award. To popularise reusable pads, these should be included in the ongoing schemes by various state government of free distribution in schools. This would reduce the financial burden on the governments too, as reusable pads cost only about one-tenth the amount if the recurring cost of disposables is taken into account. Reusable pads need to be made available in rural areas on priority due to the prevalence of poor menstrual hygiene,â said Anju Bist. Poor menstrual hygiene is associated with developing several infections like reproductive and urinary tract infections, fungal infections, aerobic and anaerobic infections and even Hepatitis B. Reusable pads can go a long way in enabling women from poor background and rural areas to maintain menstrual hygiene. These are light weight, easy to wear, rash free, non-allergic and free of harmful chemicals,â said Dr. Radhamani K, Head, Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Amrita School of Medicine, Kochi.