ASANI SANITARY NAPKIN PROJECT - For Women By Women

According to a research, over 80% of women in India do not use sanitary napkins. Sanitary napkins are generally unavailable in rural areas of the country and if available, they are too expensive for rural households to afford. Therefore, women resort to age-old alternatives like cloth, ashes, and husk sand during menstruation. These substitutes are not only extremely uncomfortable but also the cause of various diseases and infections, some of which have lifelong effects.Unhygienic menstrual practices can affect the health of the girls/women and there is an increased vulnerability to reproductive tract infections and pelvic inflammatory diseases and other complications.

The issue of menstrual hygiene is inadequately acknowledged and has not received proper attention. Good hygienic practices, such as use of sanitary pads and adequate washing of the genital areas, are essential during menstruation period. Women and girls of reproductive age need access to clean and soft absorbent sanitary products which in the long run protect their health from various infections. To this effect, the practice of good menstrual hygiene reduces the incidence of reproductive tract infection (RTI). Every year approximately 10 % of women worldwide are exposed to genital infections including urinary tract infections and bacterial vaginosis.

As there are lots of myth and taboo associate with menstruation and also due to lack of education, rural women are not aware of the consequence of unhealthy sanitation nor are they keen to discuss about menstruation related problem in the open.

Rural female will almost never ask a male shopkeeper for a packet of sanitary napkin. Even in the urban area, females are also hesitant to purchase napkins.

Lack of accessibility and awareness are two common factors which further hinder the usage of napkin. Affordability is another issue in rural India where there is a constant fight for survival; usages of sanitary napkin become a want more than need. 

Women from rural area are not using sanitary napkins due lack of awareness, non availability at village level, high cost of marketed napkins and also shame to buy it from male shop keeper when available. To overcome these all reason and to make women and girls to use sanitary pad for better menstrual hygiene, Desai foundation start Asani sanitary napkin- for women by women program. In Asani program, high quality low cost sanitary napkin prepared by a group of women and also sale by women at faliya level. This makes sanitary napkins both accessible and affordable to women by women in this region and also eliminate the shame involve during purchase from male shopkeeper. Simultaneously this program encourage women empowerment and to dream beyond.

With the help of SHG members, ASHA worker, local leader or any other NGO’s and cooperate partners can be utilised to create awareness among adolescent girls and women about the importance of hygienic sanitation practices. We also discussed and explain the truth behind every myth and taboo. We encourage them to use clean napkins regularly and dispose of used ones properly. We also promote basic practices like washing hands after using the toilet.

We believe that Asani project is worthy enough to support women empowerment:

·        By educating women and girls about menstruation and hygiene practices during menstruation

·        Gives employment to more than 50 rural women in production and sale team

·        Make low cost and high quality sanitary napkins available at door step