Nari. MOHILAK LOI MOHILAR BABE Swachchatar dishe ek swaystha INTRODUCTION:

Transcription

1 Nari MOHILAK LOI MOHILAR BABE Swachchatar dishe ek swaystha Sanmata Prayash INTRODUCTION: Project NARI is associated with setting up of low cost sanitary napkin manufacturing industry for sanitisation of women of rural and also unprivileged areas of urban/sub-urban areas of Assam. A plethora of cultural and social taboos have been associated withmenstruating girls and women, as well as menstrual health. In many parts of the world, including India, women are still not allowed to leave the confines of their homes while menstruatingin addition, this lack of awareness as well as control over their lives puts women at loss when it comes to gaininginformation on cost-effective, affordable menstrual health products. Such women often resortto horrific means such as repeatedly using the same unsterilized cloth during menstruation,and using gunny bags or even plastic, instead of sanitary napkins. Due to these unhygienicpreventative methods, women are prey to a host of illnesses and fatalities. For example, outof every 10,000 women in India, 2000 women die during childbirth due to unhygienicmenstrual practices. In India, menstruation and menstrual practices are clouded by taboos and socio-cultural restrictions for women as well as adolescent girls. Limited access to safe sanitary products and facilities is believed to be one of the reasons for constrained school attendance, high dropout rates and ill health due to infection. The Sanitary napkin industry is closely connected with the mode of life, which is in turn directly correlated housing. Accordingly this industry has always grown by keeping space with improvement in living and it isnew indispensable for sanitary in modern housing. Because of intensive improvement and progress ofsanitary goods, sanitary napkin is

2 replaced by absorbent cotton in many countries today, since it is clean &it can be carried easily. The affordable cost of the sanitary pads replaces the use of unhygienic clothes during the menstruation periods by the rural and urban poor women.use of sanitary napkin will create awareness and also improve health,hygiene amongst the female population living in underprivileged areas. Project at a glance: Sanitisation through use of low cost sanitary napkins during menstrual period amongst the rural women, adolescence girl and women living in underprivileged areas of urban/sub-urban areas including girls and women living in tea garden areas is the first and foremost priority of this project. NARI has a vision to provide low cost sanitary napkin to every women in Assam. In first phase of this project, we are to set up low cost sanitary napkin production units. All units are to be run by women. It will generate employment amongst the women conducting Training programmes for manufacturing of napkins.this project has also a vision toinvolve selfhelp groups for manufacturing and marketing sanitary napkins. Strong network of SHGs will be involved in the manufacture of napkins in the first phase itself. In the second phase the finished product NARI is to be promoted to each and every corner of rural Assam conducting awareness programme so that rural women can avail low cost sanitary napkin in a hygienic way. For successful implementation of the project NARI, we are in need of Government support towards promotion of this project for the benefit of women at large in terms of initiation of awareness programme and marketing and distribution of the product. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this project is mainly

3 1. To popularize and sensitize the use of sanitarynapkins amongst the rural women and girls and also women living in low income in urban/sub urban and underprivileged areas including tea garden areas. 2. To establish and start preparation of cost effective/low costsanitary napkins in scientific way for better health and hygiene amongst females and to prevent cervical cancer amongst the female masses. 3. To create women employment opportunities directly or indirectly. 4. To provide and supply quality based sanitary napkins to rural women as well as women living in low income in urban/ sub-urban areas in comparatively lowprice. 5. To create awareness amongst the rural population. MARKET SCENARIO: There is a well developedsanitary napkin industry in India, with major players such as Proctor & Gamble, and Johnsons &Johnsons, these sanitary napkins are often unaffordable to the millions of Indian women living in lowincomeand under-privileged section. This is primarily due to the cost of the sanitary napkins resulting fromthe use of exorbitant plant & machinery and huge profit margins by these brand name companies.therefore, this project report focuses on a worthwhile sanitary napkin manufacturing Plant/machine through which one can produce and market bio-degradable sanitary napkins. The sanitary padisclearly a major global development problem, yet it presents a major market opportunity for innovative,impact driven social enterprises. Sanitary napkin market has huge potential in a country like India where feminine hygiene levels are reckoned to be appallingly low. A sanitary napkin is a product with a stabledemand among its consumer group and such stability will act as a base for its explosive growth. Thegrowth in the Indian sanitary napkin consumption will be driven by factors like growing awareness amongindian women about feminine hygiene, availability of

4 low cost sanitary napkins in the market as well asrising women population in our country. Escalating disposable incomes will also make sanitary napkinsmore affordable and will contribute in augmenting its usage. BENEFITS: Rural woman can be economically developed by providing direct and indirect employment. For community of rural and urban females the hygiene levels can be improved. The napkin does not pollute the environment. Disposal is easy as mostly wood pulp is being employed which has a distinctive property of being biodegradable. Each unit can create a direct employment for 6 to 10 women. By selling this napkin through resident dealer mode, a large number of women would get economical benefit through indirect employment. Being a female needed products, this has the potential for having a long term stable and profitable business model, compared to other complicated and risky business initiatives by women self help groups and women entrepreneurs. The affordable cost of the sanitary pads replaces the use of unhygienic clothes during the menstruation periods by the rural and urban economically poor women. The production of low cost sanitary napkin will also fulfil the school and hospital requirements to maximum parts. BENEFICIARIES The benificiaries will include 1. School going girls. 2. Rural female household population.

5 3. Working female population both in rural and urban areas. 4. Women living in lower income group in urban, sub-urban and underprivileged areas and tea garden areas. GOVERNMENT MOVE: As per details from last Census 2011, Assam has population of 3.12 Crores, an increase from figure of 2.67 Crore in 2001 census. Total population of Assam as per 2011 census is 31,205,576 of which male and female are 15,939,443 and 15,266,133 respectively. Of the total population of Assam State, around percent liveinthe villages of rural areas. In actual numbers, males and females were 13,678,989 and 13,128,045 respectively. The State Government shall take initiative to promote use of sanitary napkins in rural areas and unprivileged areas in urban/suburban areas of Assam as a mission of sanitisation and provide low cost sanitary napkins to adolescent girls and women in the rural areas as well as unprivileged areas to promote menstrual hygiene. Involvement of non-conventional channels like AWWs (Anganwadi Workers), SHGs (Self Help Groups) and ASHA(Accredited Social Health Activists) is very much needed. The attitude of service providers and also mothers and teachers can encourage girls in coming forward and taking care of their health at early stage in life. In the first phase, the State Govt. shallprocure the napkins made under this project and will send these to Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA),AWWs,SHGs in the districts for distribution on a monthly basis or to the schools which will become distribution points for students. As an incentive, the service provider will get one pack free every month in addition to Rs.50 per meeting she holds on a Sunday for creating awareness regarding menstrual hygiene among girls.

6 Availability and Accessibility of sanitary napkins at subsidized price in schools, Anganwadi centres and health centres will also help the objectives of project NARI The State Govt. may also take initiative to distribute the low cost sanitary napkins through Fair Price Shops amongst the beneficiaries and other government agencies. Summary Rural women and women living in unprivileged areas of urban/sub-urban areas cannot afford sanitary napkins, mainly because they re manufactured using expensive machinery and thus priced at a premium. Such women resort to an unhygienic alternative which can cause infections, leading to a greater risk of complications in childbirth, and even cancer. Project NARI,is an effort to provide affordable sanitary napkins using low-cost machinery with local actors. Women in Assam can afford to purchase the sterilized sanitary napkins without compromising on quality X