An awareness drive of Sangini: A WHEELS initiative with NOBA GSR to provide affordable sanitary pads to rural girls in India. / Courtesy Photo

Period poverty is a significant global health dilemma characterized by insufficient access to menstrual products, education and sanitation facilities, which leads to widespread injustice and inequity for millions of women. The stigma and taboo surrounding menstruation, along with inadequate education and infrastructure, exacerbate these issues.

According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) conducted in India between 2019-21, only 64.4 percent of women aged 15-24 use sanitary napkins, with the remaining relying on cloth or other unsafe methods like old rags, plastic, sand and ash to address their menstrual requirements.

As per the survey, in some of India's poorest states the percentage of women using unsafe menstrual protection is quite high namely Bihar (59 percent), Madhya Pradesh (61 percent) and Meghalaya (65 percent), due to poverty, lack of healthcare and insufficient sanitation facilities.

The high cost of menstrual products is a primary contributor to period poverty, especially in India, where 70 percent of families cannot afford sanitary pads. As a result, menstrual products are often excluded from essential purchases, with women prioritizing other needs due to financial constraints. This financial barrier, combined with societal stigmas, makes it difficult for women to address their menstrual health needs openly.

The Sangini initiative aims to cover the entire rural female population of Bihar and Jharkhand by 2030. / Courtesy Photo

Period poverty also severely impacts girls' education, causing absenteeism, higher dropout rates, and reduced classroom participation. The lack of access to sanitary products and inadequate facilities leads to significant educational gaps, while the associated stigma and embarrassment negatively affect girls' self-esteem, mental health and overall academic performance.

WHEELS Global Foundation, the primary giving-back platform for Pan-IIT alumni, aims to provide affordable healthcare solutions to over 800 million rural and underserved people in India, of which rural women constitute 48 percent. In collaboration with its social impact partner NOBA GSR (a non-profit arm of Bihar-based Netarhat High-School’s Old Boys Association), NOBA GSR’s innovation model is being scaled to provide menstrual hygiene solutions ‘Sangini’ to address the crisis affecting 46 million young women in rural India.

Sangini introduces an innovative sanitary pad dispenser model that ensures the availability of quality pads at affordable rates, emphasizing awareness, availability and affordability. Launched initially in Bihar and Jharkhand, where sanitary napkin usage is lowest, the project involves local volunteers to select installation sites and support setup.

Sangini has introduced an innovative sanitary pad dispenser model that ensures the availability of quality pads at affordable rates, emphasizing awareness, availability and affordability. / Courtesy Photo

The selected manufacturer supplies quality pads to the machines, while NOBA GSR handles distribution, marketing and logistics. Pads are priced at Rs 2 each, significantly lower than the market price of Rs 10, making the model self-sustainable with initial setup costs covered by philanthropic support for just $450.

Another simple innovation is integration of M2M Sim into the dispenser machine, in addition to volume-incentive-driven sourcing partnerships to provide affordable pads. This business model simplifies delivery and replenishment, making sanitary products more accessible to rural women who face stigma purchasing them in stores. The team includes NOBA GSR’s central team, delivery centers, local hubs and village communities or schools, with dispensers capable of notifying Village-Prabharis (village heads) when stock is low.

To expand the initiative's reach and ensure financial sustainability, NOBA GSR and WHEELS have entered into a formal partnership to develop a robust solution. This collaborative effort between WHEELS and NOBA GSR is a testament to the power of partnerships in driving positive social change. By addressing critical issues such as menstrual hygiene, we are not only improving health outcomes but also ensuring that young girls can attend school with confidence and dignity.

The Sangini initiative aims to cover the entire rural female population of Bihar and Jharkhand by 2030 and has begun expanding to Maharashtra, West Bengal, Karnataka, and Telangana. Despite these efforts, the initiative remains a small step towards meeting the needs of 46 million young women in rural India. 

WHEELS leverages its alumni network, including corporate leaders, CSR associations, IAS officers, NGO partners and healthcare professionals, to drive rapid scaling and reach every rural girl and woman. The organization welcomes support from all alumni and professional communities to empower rural India by revolutionizing menstrual hygiene management, ensuring that every girl and woman can manage menstruation safely, hygienically, and with dignity.

We urge all of you with interest in supporting this large underserved segment of India’s future to join WHEELS’ efforts by visiting Sangini page and Getting Involved section which provided numerous ways for you to be part of our journey. 

 

(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of New India Abroad)