Saathi’s team of MIT mechanical engineers developed an innovative, sustainable solution to address the sanitation needs of women in rural India. Unlike traditional, commercial pads that are made of plastic, Saathi’s sanitary napkin is 100% biodegradable within six months. Not only are they eco-friendly, but they also provide a solution to a major problem in rural India:
“Every year, a quarter of all Indian schoolgirls miss up to 50 days of school a year for a simple reason – they have no adequate menstrual protection. This is one of the main reasons for high dropout rates of school aged girls in rural India. Out of India’s 250 million women of menstruating age, currently only 12% use sanitary napkins. Many of the rest use at best old rags, and at worst leaves, mud or bark, to absorb their menstrual blood. This puts them at risk of infection and limits their freedom when on their period.”
Saathi is partnering with one of India’s largest education NGOs to bring 1,000,000 pads to women across 100 villages.
