sanitary napkins made by shgs final
TRANSCRIPT
Sanitary Napkins Made by SHGs
Dr. N.ManimekalaiProfessor and Director
Department of Women’s Studies, Bharathidasan University
Tiruchirappalli- 620 [email protected]
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 women’s 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 UNICEF’s 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 producedTargeting to small regionsExpand wherever there is order and marketLimited information about the SHG makesHand made or mini machine made keeping local in mindStill it is reaching the women and girls in remote areas who
have never been to sanitary napkin usage habitsDoor 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 priceQuality in par or more than the MNC makesEnsuring 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 costCould not tell loudly – use of Harmless raw materialsFailure to identify low cost substitute raw materials in case of hike in
cotton priceSafe 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 undergroundApartments, Schools, common concrete
incinerators with Rs. 1500 onwardsElectronic 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 qualityNecessary to prove they are standardCorporate strategy needs to be applied in making it professional,
hygienic production conditions, with the PPPNetworking of NGOs, SHGs and help in standardization, share the
technology,market, and other innovations for the social causeThe cost hike should be managed by substituting materials rather than
increasing the priceFeed back from the customers and implementing the sameSeeking innovative methods of marketing through the SHGsAttractive 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, Thiruvendhai- Chennai-Suyam
Woman NGO- Keeranur Pudukottai- Woman Care
Gandhigram Trust- RelaxAnnai Teresa Federation- ChennaiWEAT – MangaiOther
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 lakhs13 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 meetingsEmployment generation: 3-15 SHG members in sanitary napkin during single shift
production4000 human days generatedComparable with rural women employment earlierIncome: 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- women’s 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
UNICEFTamil Nadu Women Development
CorporationSHG womenFemale Hygiene NetworkCorporates 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: [email protected]
Training and production by WEAT supported by Department of Women’s 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
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. RevathyDirectorExtension Department &Mr. KrishnaswamyProject ExecutiveGandhigram TrustDindigual 624 312Mobile: 099940 58433E-mail: [email protected]
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 NetworkMs. 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: [email protected]
Contact Details for MHMC Awareness Programmes and Sanitary Napkin Production.
Department of Women’s StudiesBharathidasan University
Khajamalai CampusTiruchirapalli-23
[email protected], 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 undergroundApartments, Schools, common concrete
incinerators with Rs. 1500 onwardsElectronic 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 qualityNecessary to prove they are standardCorporate strategy needs to be applied in making it professional,
hygienic production conditions, with the PPPNetworking of NGOs, SHGs and help in standardization, share the
technology,market, and other innovations for the social causeThe cost hike should be managed by substituting materials rather than
increasing the priceFeed back from the customers and implementing the sameSeeking innovative methods of marketing through the SHGsAttractive 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.