Make way for the Pad Gang

Latika Arora

Menstruation cycle is basically a biological process but in India it is treated as taboo and sanitary pads are still a luxury for many women. Two girls, Lavaanya Jain, 17, and Jaanvi Singh, 15, are trying to bring out a change by making pads at home using gauze cotton and cotton fibre and then distributing them for free to adolescent girls and poor women in slum areas of Punjab. 

Their inspiration is Padman, the movie starring Akshay Kumar. They called their endeavour Stop The Spot Campaign. This campaign includes workshop on making pads and lectures on the benefits of using it. Dr Ritu Nanda, a gynaecologist from Jallandar, is their mentor who taught them how to make hygienic pads at home. 

A single pad costs them 

Rs 1.70 and without any financial support, they are spending their pocket money on their venture.