Sanitary Napkins Made by SHGs

Dr. N.Manimekalai Professor and Director Department of Womens Studies, Bharathidasan University Tiruchirappalli- 620 023 nmanimekalai@gmail.com

Evaluation of Different types of Rural sanitary napkins available in terms of availability, accessibility, Performance and easiness of disposal

Display of different samples of Sanitary Napkins [SN] made by SHG Comparing quality with the standard products of MNC Makes available in the Market Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of different SHG products Different kinds of sanitary napkin disposal units [After use] Given the poor quality of the products available for the poor how to develop this market from supply side [how to improve the products and how to encourage from demand side]

Menstrual Hygiene Management [MHM]

Menstruation from menarche to menopause- 2100 days between 12 -14 yrs [almost six years in womens lives] M often dealt with secrecy in many cultures and sanitary facilities meeting MHM requirements is inadequate. Girls Disempowerment Reasons for poor MH- [i] culture of silence, Girls do not talk openly- Sanitary pads, use of toilets, other cleanliness practices, leading to adverse health issue. [ii] Economic constraint- failure to afford hygiene napkins and failure to change the pads frequently

Health Issues of Women

Anemia is a major threat to growth of girls, school performance, and School retention. As high as 99% of pregnant mothers and 56% of adolescent girls are anemic in India Poor diet in vitamins and minerals [iron], and intestinal worm infections. When grow up, higher risk of Maternal Mortality, poor pregnancy outcomes, low birth weight babies Timely and regular intervention in supplementing the iron requirements, deworming and timely access to factual information on the causes and prevention of anemia reduce the prevalence NFHS 3 revealed- 60-70% of the parents expressed the need for their daughters to be informed about menarche, the process of growing up.

Research Findings
UNICEFs Study in Rajasthan 2006,- 15% absenteeism of girls during or after Menstrual cycle due to cramping pains; Most girls get menarche during 11-15 age, 56% of the girls do not get any information about M before the onset 75% did not have any idea about the kind of materials to be used to absorb the flow 75%of the girls use cloth 27% did not use any material 82% reuse the cloth during and across cycles 41% dry it in sun, 27% take leave and stay at home and change cloth 15% do not change the cloth at for the whole day Girl can miss up to 10-20% or 3-4 days per month, 9-12 term, 27-36 days per school year.[Cooke, 2005] Schools lack adequate toilets, water facilities, lack of privacy, all cause discomfort for girls to change the pads Poor MH fungal infections, repeated infections to RTI, vulnerable to infertility [Singh, et al, 2001]

Key Issues to be addressed to eliminate monthly struggle of girls on MHM

Lack of adequate knowledge about MH at School and Home Lack of emotional support from home Poor access to affordable and effective menstrual materials Poor access to private and hygienic sanitation facilities at school and home, compatible with menstrual materials. Need for creating awareness and identify the risk associated with various methods of handling M Integrating MHM with TS, waste management with innovations, helping affordability, accessibility, performing and disposable.

Incorporating MHM with TS

Toilets with urinals adapting and suiting to the requirements and needs of girls like privacy, hand washing facilities, ensuring water availability, if reusable materials to be used, bathing shelters, for washing and drying,safe disposal provisions, wrapping materials for pads, training and counseling to the teachers to teach the students, proper rules and monitoring systems, sensitization to the boys in co-ed schools to not to embrass the girls

Features of SHG made sanitary Napkins

Majority wood pulp based and some are cotton based Low cost, small quantity catering to limited region. Different type of pads ordinary, belt less, regular, delivery or maternity pads, with different thickness, durability, and different thickness pads suiting heavy and light flow days Absence of Professional packing, brand, hand made, and lack of standardization and certification [ for a few women] Attractively packed SN, easy to dispose, sterilized pads are also produced by SHG women in Chennai, Kancheepuram,Dindigul, Tiruchy, Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, etc Produced by women, for women, and sold by women thorugh SHGs.

Evaluation of different types of Rural SHG Women made Sanitary napkins

In terms of Availability: It is limited in villages it is produced Targeting to small regions Expand wherever there is order and market Limited information about the SHG makes Hand made or mini machine made keeping local in mind Still it is reaching the women and girls in remote areas who have never been to sanitary napkin usage habits Door to door canvass and selling by SHG women as a group of four to five women only do marketing and others production

Affordability
Comparable with MNC makes in terms of Price, quality, reaching the unreached Without synthetic materials No plastic based top layers Rs. 2 for regular and for wings it is 2. 60 which is Rs. 3 and Rs. 7.25 respectively SHG makes are in Schools in vending machines Given along with promoting idea of MHM and health impacts not just as a product or commodity

Performance
SHG members are trained to produce napkins with complete input of anatomy, health issues to poor MHM, causing cervical cancer, the use of napkins and detection of uterus infections thorugh the colour of the white discharge, etc. All SHG makes are either cotton or wood pulp, easily degradable, no side effects, prepared scientifically suiting to average flow for a fixed duration telling to change the napkins at least after four to five hours Long hours and good absorbency do not mean good quality as there is a chance of bacterial infection All SHG makes are sterilized, but yet to standarized, which will shortly be done in collaboration with TVS Electronics Chennai

Cont.
MNC Makes are not certified under BIS Several SHG makes are certified under Indian Standards MNC makes mainly gain through advertisement, and the design is to suit no movement of inside material, they are auto produced not sterilsed All brands stay free, whisper, kortex produced in abroad and packing is in India, likelihood of contamination They are for selling product, not MHM, for profit, not for focusing on improving health. More of social Marketing

Cont.
Limited reach Different types, no standardization Competition Low cost but not attractive packing Lack of professionalism in selling adopting corporate strategy Small scale production, increase in raw material cost lead to closing of production. No standard training. Hand made and not sterilized and less credibility But still many SHG produce, successful in marketing and earn comfortable income.

Easiness of Disposal
All natural materials including fusing paper, cotton, wood pulp and easy to dispose Country method of small rat trap size cage to burn or bury under ground Low cost concrete incinerator in Schools Electronic Incinerator for Corporate or offices Highly degradable but has to be disposed fully to address the blockage etc. In built in every toilet to change the napkins and also dispose off Rs. 1500 costed concrete incinerators at Krishnagiri constructed by UNICEF in schools

Challenges
No awareness on various SHG makes Perception as poor quality and not hygienic Hike in prices of raw materials and failure and discontinuity Spending on napkins not recognised as necessity Demand constraints Lack of supply chain management lack of availability of all the materials needed.

Cont.
SHG makes need to prove producing cost effective napkins and supply at lower price Quality in par or more than the MNC makes Ensuring and Enhancing effective and sustainable market challenges of increasing cost of inputs and unable to cope up with Failed to go for bulk purchase of Raw Material and Production to minimize cost Could not tell loudly use of Harmless raw materials Failure to identify low cost substitute raw materials in case of hike in cotton price Safe disposal methods to facilitate the women and girls

Disadvantages
absorbency high not a guarantee of quality Petrochemical materials and other heat inducing materials Tampons are used which often has self life exceeded. Fully gel pad used manufactured napkins Recent budget hiked excise duty for packed items, and MNC made napkins are exempted as they are not packed. Never tested for Indian requirements, it is produced and taken as it is.

Advantages of SHG makes

Feed back is received and incorporated in production Flexible types, as per requirements, with thin and thick for heavy and light flow days Cotton based and now wood pulp mixed with Akshaya but middle layer WEAT is still making cotton based. Producers are owners and consumers Critical reach out to remote and grass root Selling hygiene practices and create demand Machine production less scope for contamination as only packing is done by human SHG Makes are going for standardization by TVS electronics and the MHMC would help every one to go for the standardization taking the parameters of thickness, absorbency, length, dimensions and size, hygiene [sterilized], using gloves, packing, scope for contamination etc

Disadvantages
Human made and unless it is produced under hygienic conditions, it is risky Absorbency, and thin pads with gel pads cause itching, Releasing sheet is absent Absorbency for more than five ours, spills out An average of 20 ml to 30ml and tested and given, if it is not sustaining, long hours Cost increase of one materials, change the material ratio may cause itches, irritation etc.

Different kinds of disposal units

Country method of preparing in steel a rat trap type to put the used napkins and burn Rs. 50 onwards Since degradable, it is buried underground Apartments, Schools, common concrete incinerators with Rs. 1500 onwards Electronic Incinerators with Rs. 10000 onwards for College Hostels, and other affordable places

Given the poor quality of the products available for the poor how to develop this market from supply side [how to improve the products and how to encourage from demand side]

How to develop this market from supply side [given the poor quality] There is a prejudice and wrong perception MNCs are standard and SHG makes are poor quality Necessary to prove they are standard Corporate strategy needs to be applied in making it professional, hygienic production conditions, with the PPP Networking of NGOs, SHGs and help in standardization, share the technology,market, and other innovations for the social cause The cost hike should be managed by substituting materials rather than increasing the price Feed back from the customers and implementing the same Seeking innovative methods of marketing through the SHGs Attractive packing and mainstreaming the SHG made to be sold in the market.

Demand Side
Accommodating the requirements of absorbency, no spills, no chemical applications etc Selling the idea of MHM rather than napkins to increase the demand. Sharing of case studies after using napkins their experience Comparison of MNC and SHG made napkins and customers feed back Free sample distribution. Reduce the cost of napkins and supply at an affordable price getting subsidized price through CSR of cotton producing companies. Make the sanitary napkins accessible through vending machines, and at lower prices, smaller packets with single or double or at the most three napkins for Rs. 5 Single pad with proper packing without giving scope for doubts of quality comitment to promote women by buying the SHG makes.

Comparing quality with the standard products of MNC Makes available in the Market

MNC makes not certified to Indian Standards [BIS], Kortex, Stay free, care free, wishper No company produces in India, except Bella J &J, P&G, etc. Production centres are in US and Packing is done in India, likelihood of contamination as only rough package while transporting and it is being dumped in India India has the production capability could be produced and avoid contamination Content is not informed in the packages

Way forward
Making the school students to get involved in the process of maintenance of sanitation which in the long term sustainability Teach the students on personal hygiene and cleanliness practices on MHM to girls, girl friendly toilets with sufficient infrastructure required to safe disposal of napkins. Rural areas should be free from open defection and hygienic practices of handling Menstruation by following NGP Awarded villages.

Display of Sanitary Napkins

Napkins of Akshya group, ThiruvendhaiChennai-Suyam Woman NGO- Keeranur PudukottaiWoman Care Gandhigram Trust- Relax Annai Teresa Federation- Chennai WEAT Mangai Other

Sanitary Napkin Production by Poonthalir SHG, Coimbatore

Commenced in 2004 with the coverage of Total Sanitation Campaign with SGSY Kalampalyam Village, Thondamuthur Block Initial investment of Rs. 4.75 lakhs 13 members trained for 10 days The process involves 10 stages as shown below

Production Capacity
4500 pads/per day Marketing with DSMS, local clinics, other districts DSMS Peer SHG members Through PLF, BLF in monthly meetings Employment generation: 3-15 SHG members in sanitary napkin during single shift production 4000 human days generated Comparable with rural women employment earlier Income: Rs. 75 per day which comes to Rs. 1800 on an average

Social Impact
Adopt to Hygienic practices [use of napkins due to low cost SN availability Increased Confidence and self esteem among adolescent girls Improvement in personal hygiene and health status Fall in girl child dropout in middle school [the school going adolescent girls reportedly drop out from schools due to inconvenience during periods

MHM A public Private Partnership Shri Cheema Foundation of TVS, Electronics, TN

TVS electronics was the pioneer to intervene in Sanitation promotion in TN Continuous involvement in sanitation revealed one serious issue- womens hygiene MH was taken as a third component in Total sanitation Education and awareness made Akshaya SHG production unit set up with tripariate contribution of 80% from TVS, 15% from govt and 5% from SHG women.

Akshya SHG, Thiruvendhai, Chennai

Supported by TVS Electronics under PPP using CSR in 2006 Innovations in terms of marketing in school through vending machines Tripartite investment TVS,Govt and SHG with Rs 70, 21 and 12 Thousands respectively. Started in NGP award village and within short period sustained in business Objective is to provide low cost high quality napkins

Sustaining the initiative

Continuous improvement as per customer requirements Continuous innovations in marketing to help SHG women to sustain in business The CSR team of TVS Electronics backed by top management supports this initiative Help in streamlining production processes- instilling scientific temperament Creating demand through education. Linking sanitation and SHG movement. Introduction of Concept Marketing as opposed to produt marketing Enhance production and producivity by standardization Developing marketing and sales strategies Working to bring in innovations like vending macines latest being the manual vending machine Helpign with supply chain management and demand management

UNICEF supported events

Workshops were conducted Three International Learning Exchange programme Vending machine concept promoting affordablity of sanitary napkins to school students Support from DRDA, Health department Officials National level trainers and helping to replicate the intervention of promoting MHM among girls To realise full attendance and also prevent drop out of girls The experience sharing of school girls were exciting They do not leave the school if they get ther periods school They also buy to other members of the family

Corporate Social Responsibility

Under the CSR, company helped financially and also technically keeping two objectives social, and economic Economic is to have livelihood needs met for the women Social is to produce and cross subsidize to sell the napkins for Rs. 2 While marketing the napkins, the woman brought forth the issues of poor MHM

Supportive Organizations
UNICEF Tamil Nadu Women Development Corporation SHG women Female Hygiene Network Corporates producing Sanitary Napkin vending machines.

Mother Teresa SHG Federation producing Napkin and offer training

DRDA supported trainer later become UNICEF trainer Produces different models of napkin and with continuous research going for use and throw pandies also. The SHG Federation had tailoring training originally and later started having training on sanitary napkin production, baby products, jute bags etc. Sanitary napkin production has been done with the objective of Creating an awareness among rural women on MHM Sanitary napkin is a use and throw but proper disposal is necessary for environemental safety Since it is a competitive field, it is necessary to offer as profitable as possible to the producers to sustain

Income Earned by SHG women

Had taken a loan from DRDA Rs. 1.00,000 which was a portion of Rs. 2.5 lakhs Installed machinery and bought raw material and successfully running the production units Originally door to door production, and later picked up and now marketing through other SHG members The members also serve as trainers and earn for their livelihood and supplement the income. Rs. 1500 is earned as income per head by 12 memebers in the production of napkins. It is good that SHG women also become employers and employees. Invited to give training all over the nation, including Orrissa, Bihar, Jharkhand, New Delh etc. Good recognition, status and income and empwerment of women.

Mother Teresa Women Development Forum, Chennai

Ms. Nagalakshmi President, 1/11, Karpaga Vinayagar Temple St Kerugampakkam Village, Kundrathur Block Kanchipuram District Mobile: 098403 10677 E-mail: swthy2010@rediffmail.com

Training and production by WEAT supported by Department of Womens Studies

WEAT identified Sanitary Napkin production as a Social project Trains SHGs, women in micro enterprises and produce low cost cotton based napkins Market in slums, schools, colleges, Collector office and other offices, National Institute of Technology, and offers training regularly to those who are interested. Installed vending machine and incinerator in certain colleges, District collector office of Tiruchirapalli etc District Collector, and DRDA allotted two shops in the Rural Mart Campus to train and also produce napkins. Ms. Sathivani was awarded best micro entrepreneur

Women Entrepreneurs Association of Tamil Nadu [WEAT]

Ms. Rani Muralidharan President, WEAT, no. 1, B. Block, St. Pauls Complex, Bharathiar Salai, Tiruchirapalli Ph: 09842413262 ranim@gksons.com

Gandhigram Trust, Tamil Nadu

10 SHG members given Skill Training Used Surgical Cotton Initially Later switched over to Wood Pulp Involved in production since 2003 An innovative trade helps to prevent RTI Branded as RELAX Started with trail and error and modify as and when required RuTAG [Rural Technology Action Group] of IIT Chennai and Kumaraguru College, Coimbatore supporting on technical aspect

Cont.
Two varieties Extra Large for maternal use, and normal stickers model for regular Producing 2000 packets [10 pads each] per month Four SHG members involved in production 785 SHG members from all over India trained 2008 helped to establish three production units with the support of DST, Uttarkhand, Kodaikanal, & North East Region

Marketing strategy of Gandhigram

Gandhigram Sales Representatives, Show Rooms, Medical Shops, Hospitals, Hostels, Vending machines and Sales Exhibitions Own customers, able to compete and withstand MNC and large corporate brands Baby diapers are also produced with the support of DST Joined the Menstrual Hygiene Management Consortium voluntarily. Ms. Revathy is the Vice President

Contact Details
Ms. Revathy Director Extension Department & Mr. Krishnaswamy Project Executive Gandhigram Trust Dindigual 624 312 Mobile: 099940 58433 E-mail: ggmtrust@sify.com

Sanitary napkin production by SHGs with WOMAN NGO

Survey conducted in 1992 on use and disposal methods during menstruation Found using cloths and throwing openly in streets Perception as spending on napkin is unnecessary Wanted to change, appointed village level facilitator, block level co-ordinator and branch level co-ordinators SHG women started 3 napkin production units in 1998, branded as WOMAN CARE, using wood pulp Introduced to the market, formed a network of clients producing different products and a slogan join together and achieve

Marketing Strategy
Marketing and Selling SHG Team formed to market the napkins 757 villages, 125 women SHG members are involved in production Profitable enterprise and sustaining also Every week end there will be a market where all the products of SHG members be brought and sold, inculcated the habit of SHG to buy SHG made products. Regular demand and order Initially single piece folded in paper to schools, which attracted very much It is made available in three napkin packets to8 pads Like milk packet, the women buy the napkins and go.

Problems
During Awareness Campaigns In production In forming the Network Ms. Shantha Sheela Nayar, the then Secretary to Health guided. Many had uterus surgery in villages and WOMAN engaged in that time. It is claimed that it is economic, eco friendly, easy to dispose, has 127300 customers as per the latest data, from four districts around Pudukottai Invited by UNICEF, SACOSAN, Bharathidasan University, District Collectors, IAS officers, Rotarians from US etc.

WOMAN NGO, Tamil Nadu

Ms. Kannagi, Chairperson, WOMAN NGO 17, Periayar st, Subramaniyapuram, Tiruchirapalli-20 Mobile: 9994917884 E-mail: woman_org@rediffmail.com

Contact Details for MHMC Awareness Programmes and Sanitary Napkin Production.
Department of Womens Studies Bharathidasan University Khajamalai Campus Tiruchirapalli-23 nmanimekalai@gmail.com 0431-2420357, 2420627 and other NGOs mentioned above

Other SHG women

Ms.Arockia Mary offer training and produce napkins called Sunlight and market in the villages, SHG women Ms. Anusuya, produces napkins at Manachanallur, and markets successfully among the SHG women Ms.Niraimathi produces napkins at Dindigul and able to train and produce and market among SHG women Ms. Valli produces and sells in schools and offers training at Musiri all hand made Ms. Fatima Produces Machine made wood pulp based napkins SHGs at CORD Foundation at Coimbatore produces napkins and sells among the SHG women. There are number of groups at Kancheepuram, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri producing napkins and market to Schools wherein School teachers were offered training to produce napkins In Pondicherry a SHG participated in auction tender but could not succeed, but supplies to the company which had taken the tender.

DWS, Bharathidasan Univ Initiative

With the support of UNICEF three levels of workshop to [i] to assess the problems and challenges of SHG made napkins [ii] Stakeholders workshop to understand the need for incorporating MHM into total Sanitation [iii] Tiruchy Declaration and Formation of Network of NGOs and other institutions, working on promoting MHM

Comparing quality with the standard products of MNC Makes available in the Market

MNC makes not certified to Indian Standards [BIS], Kortex, Stay free, care free, wishper No company produces in India, except Bella J &J, P&G, etc. Production centres are in US and Packing is done in India, likelihood of contamination as only rough package while transporting and it is being dumped in India India has the production capability could be produced and avoid contamination Content is not informed in the packages

Advantages of SHG makes

Feed back is received and incorporated in production Flexible types, as per requirements, with thin and thick for heavy and light flow days Cotton based and now wood pulp mixed with Akshaya but middle layer WEAT is still making cotton based. Producers are owners and consumers Critical reach out to remote and grass root Selling hygiene practices and create demand Machine production less scope for contamination as only packing is done by human SHG Makes are going for standardization by TVS electronics and the MHMC would help every one to go for the standardization taking the parameters of thickness, absorbency, length, dimensions and size, hygiene [sterilized], using gloves, packing, scope for contamination etc

Disadvantages
Human made and unless it is produced under hygienic conditions, it is risky Absorbency, and thin pads with gel pads cause itching, Releasing sheet is absent Absorbency for more than five ours, spills out An average of 20 ml to 30ml and tested and given, if it is not sustaining, long hours Cost increase of one materials, change the material ratio may cause itches, irritation etc.

Different kinds of disposal units

Country method of preparing in steel a rat trap type to put the used napkins and burn Rs. 50 onwards Since degradable, it is buried underground Apartments, Schools, common concrete incinerators with Rs. 1500 onwards Electronic Incinerators with Rs. 10000 onwards for College Hostels, and other affordable places

Given the poor quality of the products available for the poor how to develop this market from supply side [how to improve the products and how to encourage from demand side]

How to develop this market from supply side [given the poor quality] There is a prejudice and wrong perception MNCs are standard and SHG makes are poor quality Necessary to prove they are standard Corporate strategy needs to be applied in making it professional, hygienic production conditions, with the PPP Networking of NGOs, SHGs and help in standardization, share the technology,market, and other innovations for the social cause The cost hike should be managed by substituting materials rather than increasing the price Feed back from the customers and implementing the same Seeking innovative methods of marketing through the SHGs Attractive packing and mainstreaming the SHG made to be sold in the market.

Demand Side
Accommodating the requirements of absorbency, no spills, no chemical applications etc Selling the idea of MHM rather than napkins to increase the demand. Sharing of case studies after using napkins their experience Comparison of MNC and SHG made napkins and customers feed back Free sample distribution. Reduce the cost of napkins and supply at an affordable price getting subsidized price through CSR of cotton producing companies. Make the sanitary napkins accessible through vending machines, and at lower prices, smaller packets with single or double or at the most three napkins for Rs. 5 Single pad with proper packing without giving scope for doubts of quality comitment to promote women by buying the SHG makes.

Performance of SHG makes

Limited reach Different types, no standardization Competition Low cost but not attractive packing Lack of professionalism in selling adopting corporate strategy Small scale production, increase in raw material cost lead to closing of production. No standard training. Hand made and not sterilized and less credibility But still many SHG produce, successful in marketing and earn comfortable income.

Policy of TN and GOI

Central and State governments propose to distribute sanitary napkins to BPL women and girls free of cost Proposal is also there to make the Differently Abled persons to train and make them produce and market in all the homes of the same group by Govt of TN. Disposal of napkin through electronic incinerator of those who afford In Schools, girl friendly toilets with low cost concrete incinerator There are country type incinerator like rat trap size, each family prepare a box with the required design to put the used napkins and burn without much pollution and damage to environment.