Sustainable Menstrual Hygiene Initiative Gains Momentum in Odisha
- Saukhyam collaborates with Odisha Menstrual Health and Hygiene Alliance
- Partners including Oil India and NSS Unit of Govt of Odisha support the growing initiative
Bhubaneswar, Odisha/ 20 March, 2024 – In a round table held today in Bhubaneswar, Anju Bist, Managing Director of Saukhyam Reusable Pads, also known as the “Pad Woman” of India, emphasized the need for sustainable menstrual hygiene in Odisha. 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 Award at this year’s 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 brands of disposable sanitary napkins have dangerous chemicals harmful for our health.
To spread awareness and promote sustainable menstrual hygiene practices, Saukhyamin collaboration with NSS Unit of the Department of Higher Education, Govt of Odisha, conducted awareness workshops in several colleges in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. “We received very good feedback for these workshops. This year we hope to expand the workshops to many more colleges,” stated NSS State Coordinator, Mr. Ramesh Chandra Behera. .
Representatives from Odisha Menstrual Health and Hygiene Alliance, Oil India and Indian Railways also spoke, outlining their plans for taking forward this sustainability initiative. Oil India has provided support for the construction of India’s largest reusable pad factory in Kerala. This factory functions as a hub, supporting spokes or rural satellite production centers in many states of India. Team Saukhyam will work with stakeholders to begin a satellite production center in Odishathis year.
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 are clearly an idea whose time has come. For communities, they are the best way to make menstrual hygiene solutions accessible and affordable.”
“Phthalates and volatile organic compounds are found in many commonly available brands of disposable sanitary napkins and these are very harmful for our health,” stated Dr. Archana of Indian Railways.“Saukhyam has a proven track record of benefits for our health and we are happy that the team has extended a lifetime free supply to all national- and international-level players.”
Saukhyam Reusable Pads, lasting up to three years, have gained popularity among more than 5 lakh women and girls in India and internationally. This shift is helping prevent the emission of 4000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually. An estimated 43,750 tons of non-biodegradable menstrual waste has also been eliminated.
At the round table, Ms. Sneha Mishra on behalf of Odisha Menstrual Health and Hygiene Alliance handed over a Saukhyam pad set to national athlete Ms. Subhasmita Rath, signaling the impending change. The round table concluded with a call to action, urging individuals, communities, and businesses to embrace the principles of a circular economy and choose sustainable alternatives for a healthier planet.
