BHUBANESWAR: The real life ‘Padman’ of Odisha Jayant Kumar
Dash is basking in his new found success and popularity after prime minister Narendra Modi and union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad mentioned his work in their tweets. Dash’s sanitary pad making unit ‘Stree Swabhimaan’ is producing around 500 pads a day and creating awareness about menstrual hygiene among rural women in Balasore district.
“I don’t know how they (PM and Prasad) knew about my work. But some people of my area showed me the tweets and I am really happy and excited. People from around the world who are following the leaders also knew about it, which is something incredible for me,” said Dash, a graduate.
Dash, 32, is a village level entrepreneur, who has been running a Common Service Centre (CSC) or
Jana Seva Kendra at Patrapada village in Balasore Sadar block for the last 10 years. At the CSC various services under government schemes in rural areas, ranging from Aadhar related service, bill payments, education and LED sales are provided to public. There he came to know about ‘Stree Swabhiman’ scheme under which the Central government is facilitating setting up of a sanitary pad manufacturing unit at CSC.
“When I got the offer of setting up a unit of pad making I decided to go about it. Initially some friends and relatives raised some doubt whether it will work or not. But my family including my wife and sister supported me and we started the unit, which has become operational for the last few months,” Dash added.
At present nine women are working in the unit that produces around 450 to 500 sanitary pads in a day. Apart from selling the sanitar y pads to rural women, Dash and his team are also circulating the pads among women for trial and getting their feedback.
“The response is quite encouraging and women are really liking our product. They said it is thinner and equally good as the pads selling in the market. We are distributing some among girls and women for trial,” said Dash.
The price of one packet comprising 8 pads costs Rs 20 while the price of pads available in the market starts from Rs 30 per packet of 8. The cost of production of one packet is around Rs 12 to Rs 15, he said.
“We have been trying to educate and create awareness among rural women about the benefits of using sanitary pads as women in rural women still use clothes during their monthly periods. We are also telling them the health hazards it may cause. Girls are more adoptive than the older generations but mind set is changing fast,” said
Nandini Dash, Jayant’s wife, who is also helping him in his venture.
