Assam’s “Padman” Introduces Reusable Hygienic Sanitary Pad For Creating Awareness In Rural Areas

Akshay Kumar the Bollywood icon had enlivened hope in underprivileged areas of India by highlighting the necessity of sanitary pad in his 2016 hit blockbuster “Padman” film to help women live a healthy life where Assam’s Uttam Teron can be said as role model of “Padman” for introducing very easy to make reusable pad at home.

It was in July last year when Uttam had introduced this sanitary product that slowly took peak in sales. In rural areas such pad are not tagged with price but are distributed for free. This cheap reusable pad was initially promoted by social workers from US, Floyd at Assam, Guwahati Parijat Academy that is by Uttam Teron. 

In this non-profit academy the volunteered girl students are involved into this mission of handmade sanitary napkin. Uttam is already popular worldwide for his noble work in bringing literacy to light by opening non-profit Parijat Academy, Assam where currently had made 11 villages in literate category apart from his hamlet Pahmoni where he was born with 100% literate children population.

The pads are priced from Rs.80 to Rs.110 for each package but  is sold for free in village areas to create awareness. This reusable pad is tailored in double flap design just like Wishper Wings branded product. But this pad is hold firmly by flap buttons to a panty. It is made out of environment friendly material like cotton for making first layer known as seal.

This pad package is originally designed under US based social workers’ concept by using breathable lamination film to create as barrier sheet to prevent leakage of menstrual flow but if the flow is heavy then one can add to the first layer another linear layer that is simply made of cotton fabric. The price ranging for normal size piece pad package is Rs. 80 that is seal price is Rs. 50 and liner wall price Rs. 30. Regarding large size pad package the seal price is Rs.70 plus while liner wall price is Rs. 40 with total Rs.110.

One can cut the cost as per to one’s requirement with single use of seal without using liner wall. Depending on the flow liners are required. These used fabrics could be washed well and could be kept safely for next reuse. Current market for such pads is not high. It is the non-profit organizations who are their buyers and distributing the items according to Uttam the proprietor of Parijat Academy (a non-profitable institute) and producer of reusable pad that is of international standard as certified by WHO (World Health Organization).

According to Aimoni Tunung of Parijat Academy such concept pad was first introduced by a Kenyan American lady which is utilized by the US, Floyd based social workers who came to Assam to train ladies in this Assam institute. Currently there are multiple organizations who had approached for reusable pad from Uttam to distribute it in rural areas according to the staff member of Praijat Academy.

According to Aimoni’s estimation it will take time to capture commercial markets as dealers are not much aware. Much expectation is from Guwahati Municipal women welfare division for government intervention in such project for its further uplift whereas Oil India Ladies Club and Lions Club – Arpan, Guwahati have been of tremendous support to boost their products’ distribution, promo and fabric provision to encourage for such noble mission.

The biggest challenge for Aimoni is the heavy expenditure made in procuring  Rs. 500 meter lamination film for leakage barrier in pad and moreover there is only limited stock sources in Guwahati but with US social workers’ help they have today required materials to continue their production.

 NEIC Special Report: SUMI