With the unprecedented outbreak of the coronavirus situation, the entire nation is under a lockdown, and has stagnated the whole economy and daily lives of people. This has also pushed women from marginalised sections of society into greater vulnerabilities, as many women are in dire need of menstrual products. To mitigate the suffering of menstruating women, Baala, an organisation that aims to curb the inhibitions of rural women caused by social stigma, has distributed 18,000 reusable pads in seven communities by collaborating with other NGOs.
With 36% of women using sanitary pads, India faces a major issue of non-biodegradable waste. Baala is making a difference by producing sanitary pads that can be used for upto two years. These pads, which have a super-absorbent layer at the core, are environment-friendly and take care of the problem of leakage and disposal.
Out of all menstruating girls and women in India, less than 20% use sanitary pads; the numbers only rise to about 50% in urban areas. Menstrual health is still considered a taboo in the country, and women have to go through a lot due to various myths still instilled in the beliefs of people — such as women being barred from being a part of festivities and ceremonies, or entering places of worship during their menstruating period.