A women’s intimate hygiene brand using banana fibre as an absorbent to make sanitary pads has been awarded the Best Social Initiative on Menstrual Hygiene’ at the third Menstrual Hygiene Management India Summit held recently.

‘Saukhyam’ reusable pads, a Mata Amritanandamayi Math project, are made by women self-help groups in various states of the country in recognition of the brand’s endeavour to empower women in rural areas.

Made from banana fibre and cotton cloth, these menstrual pads cost just one-tenth of the conventional ones, the company said. Health experts too now recommend cloth sanitary pads for a healthy menstrual cycle, it said.

Saukhyam reusable pads have also been honoured with the Most Innovative Product Award by the National Institute of Rural Development. The project was lauded at the UN Climate Change Conference (2018) in Poland for its sustainable financing mechanism.

Last year, NITI Aayog honoured Saukhyam with the Women Transforming India Award.

In India, around 35.5 crore women need sanitary pads and a majority of them are in rural areas.