Kolam’s native, Anju Bisht, The Pad-Woman of India recently got honoured by the Niti Ayog for her exemplary work in making reusable pad from banana fibre, which comes from agro-waste.
Anju Bisht was among the 75 women honoured as Women Transforming India by the Niti Ayog.
Bisht is associated with Amrita SeRve(Saukhyam Reusable Pad), which makes reusable menstrual pads.
Their prime focus is to provide eco-friendly and low-cost solutions for menstrual hygiene which results in the development of Saukhyam Reusable Pads from cotton cloth and banana fibre.
Saukhyam Reusable Pads have won several accolades and sold online with exports to countries like Germany, USA, Spain, Kuwait, and UK.
“Up till now, they have distributed and sold over 5,00,000 pads, contributing towards preventing the emission of over 2000 tons of Carbon dioxide equivalent annually. It has further aided the elimination of an estimated 43,750 tons of non-biodegradable menstrual waste”
PIB
Anju Bisht and her team are the first in the world to make such pads. Disposable pads have an immense impact on the environment and her work was inspired as a method to decrease waste substantially.
They have reached around 4000 women who have switched from regular menstrual products to the reusable product.
Bisht is the founding member of the Women in Indian Social Entrepreneurship Network. She was awarded the Social Entrepreneur of the Year for the “exceptional impact, clarity and growth of work dedicated to furthering the UN Sustainable Development Goals” presented by the Women for India and Social Founder Network coalition in March 2020.
The reusable pad was also awarded the most innovative product by the National Institute of Rural Development,
