1M Pads Because Periods Don't Stop For Pandemics

Did you know in India every year 23 million girls drop out of school when they start menstruating? Many womxn particularly wage workers and labourers have to miss multiple days at work because of lack of access to menstrual products which results in not being able to support their family for those few nights or getting fired from their jobs.

How has COVID affected access?

The lockdown has made it difficult for womxn in underprivileged communities to manage their period safely and with dignity. With most relief efforts catering to food insecurity and PPE shortages, the distribution of sanitary pads - an equally essential item - is being sidelined. These womxn are facing an acute shortage of sanitary pads due to limited accessibility and loss of income. COVID-19 has been challenging and we have been working to adapt in whatever way possible but “Periods Don’t Stop for Pandemics'' and we won’t either! Though it has been challenging, we are still privileged to have enough food to eat and a roof over our heads. In this season of giving, we want to amplify the impact with your support.

Tattvbodh is proud to be partnering with Saathi - a social venture which manufactures plastic-free sanitary pads from natural fibers. Saathi is a social venture which has a patented technology to convert agri-waste into absorbent materials. Saathi is on a mission to revolutionize the hygiene industry as a consumer products company that makes products that are good for your body, the community and the environment in a sustainable and responsible way. We want to drive systemic change around how menstrual hygiene is addressed and thus drive the shift to a circular economy. Our first product is a 100% biodegradable and compostable sanitary pad made from banana and bamboo fibre which converts into compost within 6 months of disposal, 1200x faster than conventional sanitary pads which take 600-700 years to degrade. Saathi pads are good for the body, community and environment.

What is the #OneMillionPads Initiative?

When we launched Saathi 5 years ago we launched a very ambitious #OneMillionPads initiative to address the lack of access to menstrual products. The #OneMillionPads initiative aims at providing complete Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) to underprivileged women in India who don't have access to sanitary pads. Saathi initially partnered with Ekal Vidyalaya and its sister organization Arogya Foundation to provide menstrual hygiene education and biodegradable sanitary pads to girls and womxn in rural Jharkhand and has since expanded the program to reach thousands of womxn. For this campaign, Saathi has partnered with Tattva Bodh Foundation to address lack of access to sanitary pads with underserved communities in India.

We will provide 1 year of sanitary pads to 2500 menstruators in India. It takes just Rs 1500 to provide 1 year worth of sanitary pads to 1 menstruator. During the entire campaign, we will be posting updates. Our goal is to raise Rs 35,00,000 to reach 2500 menstruators in India.

During the entire campaign we will be posting updates. We are grateful for every single penny raised. With your support, not only will 2500 menstruators have a year’s supply of pads, but the farmers and local women who help us make the pads will also benefit. Saathi buys agri-waste from farmers in India which provides them extra income and employs an all-women staff in its manufacturing unit. Let us support every living being in need and build an equitable world together.

Link to our video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q10gzEW9YTQ