While women self-help groups in Tamil Nadu have been engaged in the production of low-cost sanitary napkins for some time now, a new proposal looks to rope in expertise from Auroville to get SHGs to produce an eco-positive and healthy alternative.
At the forefront of this effort is the Sustainable Livelihood Institute (SLI) at Auroville, a joint initiative of the Tamil Nadu Rural Livelihood Mission and Auroville Foundation, which was set up in March this year.
SLI trains SHGs, especially women groups, in a variety of areas, including business, skill development, and marketing. Eco Femme (a social enterprise under the Auroville Village Action Trust of which the SLI is a part) at Auroville produces cloth washable pads, which are biodegradable, last longer than conventional disposable pads available in the market, and are healthy to use.
SLI is now offering SHGs an opportunity, under the Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women (TNCDW), to join in the production of Eco Femme pads by offering training and support for setting up production units. SHGs in Kancheepuram district are considering joining this initiative. Krishnammal, Project Officer, Mahalir Thittam, Kancheepuram district, said: “We plan to send a group of 20 women who can be trained to make these pads. The Eco Femme pads can be targeted at college students.”
Mixed resultsEarlier, the SHGs in the district had mixed results in the production of belt napkins, with some of them failing quality tests and the SHGs facing difficulty in being competitive and profitable, and in the distribution of its products. With the Eco Femme pads, Ms. Krishnammal said it was essential to create awareness of their advantages among the target customers, besides interest among the SHGs.
Concern over pricingThe government authorities’ concern about pricing (Eco Femme is priced higher than the napkins being produced by SHGs now) and marketing is something which can be addressed without difficulty, according to Ram Subramanian, who heads SLI.
“Pricing is relative. Eco Femme can be thought of as a product for the niche market, targeting educated women in urban areas who are eco-friendly and health conscious. We can tweak the product to suit SHGs and rural customers as well. We have to create awareness among the SHGs first of the product and its market. With online retailing, products by rural SHGs can reach a wide audience,” Mr. Subramanian said.
P. Lakshminarayanan, Liaison Officer, TNCDW, agrees. “Financial support can be provided through the district bank concerned, and bulk loans can be provided through the Panchayat-Level Federation of SHGs of each district,” he said.
The Eco Femme initiative also addresses the important issue of waste disposal, with conventional pads causing clogged drains and burning them leading to air pollution.
