#FirstStoryPositive: Meet the 18-year-old who's on a mission to promote menstrual hygiene among rural women
In order to impart the knowledge of menstrual hygiene among the women of rural areas, an 18-year-old Sohan Pappu has launcheda unique mission on its own in Hyderabad.
Sohan, who is pursuing BBA, has startedthe campaign called ‘Suraksha’ and has developed organic sanitary napkins for thewomen. The teen boy is also a chairman of Our Youth Social Community, who worksday in and out to promote social welfare has also conducted several campaignsin the city to bring awareness among women regarding the use of organicallyprepared sanitary pads.
“Data shows that 88 percent of Indian ruralwomen do not have access to sanitary napkins,” said Sohan.
“We started with distributing sanitarynapkins available in the market free among the women. We received an excellentresponse, but I was not happy after I came to know that harmful chemicals are usedto make these napkins,” he further added.
Sohan, then conducted research tounderstand the process of making the sanitary pads during which he realizedharmful chemicals, plastic, and bleaching powder are used to make napkins. Thus,it pushed him to come up with organic sanitary napkins.
“There are many products in the market whichclaim to be organic, but they are not. I made a product from banana pulp andbamboo and received a good response from the women. I am going to make them inbulk once I procure the right machines,” the entrepreneur added.
When askedwhy he started the initiative, Sohan said: “Many girls drop out of schoolbecause they do not have access to good-quality sanitary napkins. The chemicalscan cause UTI.”