BHUBANESWAR: In a country where 88 percent Indian women have no access to sanitised napkins, three students of KIIT University have come up with a viable alternative.
The trio, Ria Das, Payal Sinha and Rajashree Ramaswamy, consummated a concept to use an easily available substance from the surroundings which contains ‘natural polymers’ to make the napkin. The polymers are compounds bearing absorbent properties and widely used in the commercially available sanitary napkins.
After a series of exhaustive selection and scrutiny the group decided to use a plant (weed) variety which can be conveniently obtained from ponds and wet garbage dumps. ‘’The products which are already available in the markets contain toxic substances like dioxin and asbestos which adversely affect the reproductive system and induce gynecological cancers”, says Ria.
This young breed of innovators collected the samples of the weed and processed it in their laboratory. After four months of rigorous research and trials the first lot of the product they conceived was rolled out. The initial quality tests showed excellent results and now the team has decided to file a patent on their innovation, said the Director of the Centre, Mrutyunjay Suar.
Since the raw materials involved in the process are drawn from a natural environment the product is devoid of any side-effect on women-health.
“The manufacturing process is eco-friendly as no harmful substances or toxic wastes are used or discharged during production”, claimed Payal. The three of them are now establishing tie-ups with several women’s organisation to reach out to the rural precincts and create awareness about their product.
‘’A pack containing 10 pieces of these sanitary napkins will not cost more than ` 15,’’ said Rajashree. Given the natural raw materials involved the product is completely bio-degradable, she added.
Once the patent for this product is filed and they get a patron to manufacture it in bulk, the team targets to approach rural women, village schoolgirls, slum women, and the female population surviving below the poverty line, to use it.