Pads with purpose

In Delhi's Azadpur, women champion menstrual health through hand-made, affordable hygiene products

- By DEEPANWITA GITA NIYOGI

AZADPUR IN North Delhi is known for its fresh fruit and vegetable market. But in a small room in the locality's community centre, tucked between the narrow lanes, 50 women are engaged in a very different practice: making and selling menstrual products.

From Monday to Saturday, the women work on sewing machines to make single-use and reusable pads as well as menstrual cups under the supervision of Neelam, their trainer. “I train the women to make the pads with rough cloth pieces. Then they move on to the products,” she says. “I can now make 80-90 pads in a day,” says Sandhya Suryavanshi, one of the product-makers.