Gumla District Empowers Tribal Women by Procuring Sanitary Napkins for School Distribution

By: WE staff | Tuesday, 15 April 2025

• Gumla district social welfare department is endeavoring to encourage tribal women entrepreneurs by buying sanitary napkins in bulk from them
• These napkins will be given away free of cost in government schools
• Every month, approximately 1 lakh napkins will be purchased to fund the initiative

In an attempt to assist tribal women entrepreneurs, the social welfare department of Gumla district has begun procuring sanitary napkins in bulk from them for free distribution in government schools. According to sources, the administration will purchase approximately 1 lakh napkins per month under the health and cleanliness sub-plan of the government's Beti Bachao Beti Padhao programme.

One self-help group (SHG) of 12 tribal women belonging to Dumri block, Gumla district, which makes 'SuperNova' sanitary napkins under the project of Project Kishori undertaken by the district administration, has got a bulk order. The SHG began the project last October and ever since has made rapid progress.

The unit is capable of producing 10,000 to 14,000 pads per day. The women had received a major order for 1, 00,000 regular napkins per month from the Hans Foundation in January this year. District Commissioner Karn Satyarthi, who had developed Project Kishori, said, "Our project intends to empower rural women, and most importantly tribals, by opening up livelihood avenues. It also assists in menstrual hygiene management by providing a low-cost, good-quality option to big brands."

Gumla's social welfare officer Aarti Kumar said, "We are going to provide the sanitary pads free of cost to girl students in government schools across the district." In 2024-25, the social welfare department had purchased nearly 1 lakh pads. This year, it is planned to purchase the same number every month.

The SHG’s president, Ranjeeta Kumari, along with Secretary Vinita Oraon and Treasurer Mayanti Kumari, are leading the production efforts from a remote area. Ranjeeta mentioned, “We’re receiving large orders now, and all members are fully occupied with manufacturing to meet the demand.”

The District Commissioner continued, "There is a huge gap in terms of availability of quality and affordable sanitary pads in the rural markets. Any available pad can cost Rs 6-7 per pad. Our project, as part of the Ujjana Bijjana Abhiyan, seeks to fill the gap".