THE PROBLEM :

Across India, menstruation remains surrounded by stigma, silence, and misinformation.
For many low-income families, menstrual products are not consistently affordable, and menstrual education is limited. As a result, girls face health risks, miss school, and grow up with shame around a natural biological process. These challenges are even more visible in underserved communities like Dharavi.

During my conversations with girls and women in the Sion area of Dharavi, I found:

•  Basic but incomplete knowledge of menstrual hygiene 
•  Continued health issues due to improper usage 
•  Financial difficulty in purchasing disposable pads monthly 
•  Compromised hygiene due to cost constraints 

For families living on daily wages, sanitary pads are often treated as a recurring expense they struggle to prioritise.

Menstrual health inequality here is not only a health issue; it directly affects education, income stability, confidence, and dignity.

So how do we break this cycle???

THE STORY OF IMPACT:

“This campaign aims to impact many girls like Kaifya”

Reusable sanitary pads can improve health, prevent infections, and ensure uninterrupted school and work. Combined with menstrual education, they build awareness, confidence, and dignity for girls and women.

THE SOLUTION:

Pic: Shows the 5 sanitary pads that will be given.

Pads Not Privilege is an initiative led by me to eliminate period poverty and menstrual education inequality in underserved communities across India.

So far, the initiative has created a measurable impact:

 
•  INR 5,12,000+ raised 
•  1,024 reusable menstrual pads distributed 
•  140+ students educated through structured sessions 
•  29,000+ people reached digitally 
•  300+ individuals reached through in-person outreach.

The next phase focuses on Dharavi, Mumbai, often referred to as Asia’s largest slum, where menstrual health remains deeply neglected due to poverty and stigma.

This campaign will directly support 450+ girls and women in Dharavi.

FUND GENEROUSLY,

If you fund,

• INR 10,000, you impact 20 girls/women.

• INR 20,000, you impact 40 girls/women.

• INR 30,000, you impact 60 girls/women.

THE INR 500 COST INCLUDES:-

• The Production cost.

• Shipping charges.

• Cost of distribution.

• Training of beneficiaries.

Training and monitoring play a very significant part in the overall cost. The training will be done on the importance of menstrual hygiene and the use of pads. 

The reusable pads are high-quality, antimicrobial, safe, and environmentally responsible. By lasting 18 months, they reduce financial burden and significantly cut menstrual waste.

This model ensures long-term behavioural change, not just one-time distribution.

WHY SHOULD WE USE REUSABLE PADS?

EACH PACK OF 5 COSTS INR 500, INCLUDING DISTRIBUTION COSTS, PRODUCTION COSTS, TRAINING, AND MONITORING COSTS.

COMPARISON:

ANOTHER STORY OF IMPACT:

COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT:

Pic: Me conducting a menstrual health session at Ideal High School, Mumbai.

I have conducted menstrual health sessions for over 70 girls at Manav Seva Sangh, a girls’ home in Sion. I also conducted sessions for over 80 girls at Ideal High School, a government school in Trombay, in collaboration with Yuva Unstoppable.

Additionally, I hosted the first 8th and 9th-grade fete stall at Dhirubhai Ambani International School for two consecutive years, engaging with over 500 people to raise awareness about Pads Not Privilege (PNP) and menstrual health equity.

ABOUT ME:

My name is Sanaaya Joisher. I am a Grade 9 student at The Dhirubhai Ambani International School, Mumbai.

I started this initiative after learning how deeply menstrual stigma and period poverty affect girls and women across India. What began as research soon became personal when I spoke directly with women and girls in Dharavi. I realised that the issue is not only about access to products, but also about awareness, affordability, and dignity.

Through Pads Not Privilege, I aim to create a practical and sustainable solution that combines reusable menstrual products with structured education. My focus is not just distribution, but long-term behavioural change that improves health, confidence, and opportunity.

I believe no girl or woman should miss school, work, or opportunity because of a natural biological process.

The Hygiene kit that is being is unique as it is reusable. It has 5 pads - 3 for medium flow and 2 for heavy flow. It lasts for 18 months and dramatically reduces the amount of waste created (as otherwise pads are dumped every month). As they last for so long, they are also cost-effective. Disposable/Normal sanitary pads have to be bought repeatedly, cost INR 50-100 per month, and are very damaging to the environment as they create huge waste.

The cost of this hygiene kit (including distribution, training the women/girls, etc) is just INR 500 per pack of 5.

I request all of you to support my campaign. Let's come together and do our bit.

BENEFICIARY LOCATIONS IN MUMBAI:

Let’s together ensure no girl or woman misses school, work, or opportunity because of her period!!