Free sanitary pad bank: A striking initiative of team Shuruaat
To spread menstrual hygiene awareness and to avoid severe health risks in menstruating women from the slums, a free sanitary pad bank has also been started by the organization on 1 January 2021. So far, it has more than 400 poor women as beneficiaries from slums across Prayagraj city. It gives complete freedom to all needy women to take pads on their own every month. This is the first sanitary pad bank of Prayagraj city and second of Uttar Pradesh. Presently, women living in an area of about 15-20km have become regular members of this bank.
Still today, slum and urban-rural females of our society face a nerve-racking situation during their menstruation phase where they are forced to use grass, mud or dirty cloths instead of sanitary napkins because of it’s unaffordable costs. These poor and illiterate women and teenage girls still remain ignorant about period hygiene. As a result, they have to face severe health risks. By considering various physical health risks in such slum females , a free sanitary pad bank has also been started by ‘Shuruaat’ organization on January 1, 2021 in Alopibagh district of Prayagraj city, which offers free pads to all poor women. So far more than 400 women have been registered in this pad bank. Presently, women living in an area of about 15-20km have become regular members of this bank.
After having 2 branches in Prayagraj, Shuruaat has started 3rd branch of Pad bank in Bhadohi.
Now, these underprivileged women are not only becoming conscious about their health but are also living the complete freedom to carry sanitary pads from this pad bank, which is really commendable.
“Free pads for all deprived women is our next mission” : Shuruaat team
The bitter truth of our country is that, among all the poor women are the worst sufferers of menstruation cycles, as they have no capacity to deal with the high cost of sanitary pads. In such circumstances, the organization does not want to limit it’s free pads facility to the women of a particular area of Prayagraj city, but wants to broad it’s reach for every needy woman living in India. 'Shuruwat' organization sees this objective as it's upcoming segment.
