The first sanitary pad manufacturing unit was established in the East Champaran district of Bihar state (in India) in 2019. The unit was set up in the Nayagaon revenue village in the Kesaria block. The Kesaria block is a rural and agricultural administrative unit in the flood plains, and is situated in north-west Bihar, along the river Gandak. It is at a distance of around 120 km form Patna, the capital city of Bihar. It was part of the ancient Buddhist world and Lord Buddha is said to have travelled along the river Gandak on many of his historical journeys. A huge ancient hillock/mound in Kesaria was excavated a few years ago by Archaeological Survey of India and this is now known as Kesaria Stupa – perhaps the tallest Buddhist Stupa in the world, dating from 1-3 century AD. The unit is located five kilometres away from Kesaria proper, in the village Nayagaon. Nayagaon and Kesaria both are situated along the state highway 74.
The foundation is currently operating in three states of India However, out footprints in these three states are limited to few places only. Our slow but steady plan of expansion has been conditioned by finding suitable and motivated people who are willing to work for the cause of menstrual health and women empowerment.
In Bihar, our manufacturing units are located in Kesaria block, as detailed above. We carry out free distribution, organize menstrual awareness workshop and camps, and other activities too in this and surrounding areas. We are also planning to set up a new manufacturing unit in Bihar, which may be in Samastipur or Gopalganj districts.
In Ranchi, Jharkhand, we are also in the process of setting up a manufacturing unit. Some menstrual health awareness workshop and free distribution camp have been organized in Ranchi and adjoining villages which are predominantly tribal.
In West Bengal, our presence in only in Kolkata, and there too, it is limited to organizing free sanitary pad distribution camps and workshops in various poor and disadvantaged areas/slums of Kolkata, like Girish Park, Belgachia and Sealdah.
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