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Rationale of the project:
The constitution of India states that everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family; including food, clothing, and housing and medical care and necessary social services motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. In India nearly 80% to 90% rural women use old cloths instead of using sanitary napkins leading to vaginal infection & diseases.
Low cost Feminine hygiene is a priority. Menstruation continues to be shrouded in misconceptions and perceived as a matter of extreme embarrassment. In Uttar Pradesh, as in other parts of India, menstruation and menstrual practices are clouded by taboos and social restrictions for women as well the girls. The socio cultural norms in the society discourage discussion pertaining to puberty and menstruation within and outside the family thus leading to poor and unhygienic practices to manage Menstruation. Girls have little opportunity to take care of their health and other requirements. On account of the traditional patriarchy followed since time immemorial, often their contribution is not accounted and valued. Communication gap between girls and their parents, other family members is found.
In India both in rural and urban area, women health has been the most neglected aspect. The adolescent girls who are potential women to lead their future lives are ashamed of menstruation. They get information and education on menstruation from her mother and grandmother, who themselves had practiced the unhygienic behaviors for years and thus do not see any harm in the practices of using old cloths during menstruation. However, the use of cloth comes with its own set of problems if it is used unhygienically. Often there is not enough water to wash the menstrual cloth. Even in places where water is in plenty, the secrecy around menstruation does not allow women to wash and dry these cloth bits in the open. Instead, they are dried under other wet clothes, in damp toilets or sometimes even under mattresses. Vaginitis and urinary tract infections were twice as prevalent among women who used cloth during menstruation than those who used sanitary pads, according to a study.
The scenario in Kulpi a community development block consisting of gram panchayats of Baburmahal, Belpukur, Chandipur, Dhola, Gazipur, Iswaripur, Kamarchak, Karanjali, Keoratala, Kulpi, Rajarampur, Ramkishore, Ramkrishnapur and Ramnagar Gazipur is more pathetic as rural women have very less privacy in compare to urban set up. Most of rural women bathe in ponds and wash their menstruation cloths in ponds but dare and feel shy to dry the wash clothes. Sometimes the wet and damp and unhygienic clothes are used by them due of lack of privacy. Few women definitely prefer sanitary napkins than clothing. The sensitization level is also poor. Hence there should be rampant awareness on usage of sanitary napkins during menstruation period along Menstrual Health Management (MHM).
The problems rises in proportion to the affordability to the choices of means adopted for menstrual hygiene management where sanitary napkin is preferred by and large by the women and girls but due to low income and poverty they many times fail to afford it. This further inculcates sense of inferiority and declines their confidence in mobility attending schools, doing even daily household chores and participation. The requirement is production of low cost sanitary napkins and making available to them.
Project details; brief summary, objectives and methodology:
Project Summary:
The proposed project intends to build an enterprise model on a pilot basis in Kulpi where group(s) of women would be nurtured to run the business by themselves with handholding support and overall supervision.
The project will also generating demand and creating awareness among the targeted beneficiaries i.e. adolescent girls and women on the importance of personal and menstrual hygiene management in the marginalized communities, the project will involve many actors such as adolescent girls group, women’s group and Self Help Groups (SHGs).
The main thrust of the project is to develop women as entrepreneurs while channelizing their potentials and imparting training for their skill diversification and becoming self-sufficient as part of the social enterprise of the low cost sanitary napkin business and our responsibility to the society as whole. The project includes identification of beneficiaries, skill training on low cost sanitary napkins production, mechanisms to operate sanitary napkins production machines and finally setting-up a production unit of Cost Effective Sanitary Napkins which will add a financial support and simultaneously will improve the women and girls health by initiating the use hygienic napkins during menstruation period.
Project Goal:
Setting up a low cost sanitary napkin enterprises for proving affordable option for menstrual hygiene management and a business model for creating employability to the rural SHG women in Belpukur under Block-Kulpi, district-South 24 Parganas
Project Objectives:
1. Selection of Site for Setting-up the Production Unit: The units will be established in Belpukur gram panchayat
2. Preparation/Setting up of Training cum Production Shed: The training will be imparted to the project staff and SHG members for the successful initiation and implementation of the project
3. Engagement of Project Staff: To carry on the activities of the project smoothly and successfully 1 skilled and trained person will be engaged. The proposed project will be one Project Coordinator based at Southern Resque Head Office and One skilled worker for Belpukur gram panchayat. The recruitment and selection of staff will be sole responsibility of Southern Resque.
4. Training on Income Generation Programme, Sanitary napkins making, Production: The skilled worker will deal with targeted rural women through identification, engagement, capacity building and hand holding on low cost sanitary napkins production. The training programmes will be organized separately in field places.
5. Public Awareness programmes
Definitely there will be several public awareness programmes like trainings, workshops, meetings for sensitizing and creating awareness among women and adolescent girls for keeping hygienic practices during menstruation period.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATION FOR THE PROJECT
COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS
Cost of Single Napkin
Cost of 1 sanitary napkins packet
Cost of capital investment
Monthly Calculation (Profit and Loss)
Project Budget (Belpukur Gram Panchayat):
Total amount requested for sanitary napkins production and marketing: INR. 11, 98, 000
The constitution of India states that everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family; including food, clothing, and housing and medical care and necessary social services motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. In India nearly 80% to 90% rural women use old cloths instead of using sanitary napkins leading to vaginal infection & diseases.
Low cost Feminine hygiene is a priority. Menstruation continues to be shrouded in misconceptions and perceived as a matter of extreme embarrassment. In Uttar Pradesh, as in other parts of India, menstruation and menstrual practices are clouded by taboos and social restrictions for women as well the girls. The socio cultural norms in the society discourage discussion pertaining to puberty and menstruation within and outside the family thus leading to poor and unhygienic practices to manage Menstruation. Girls have little opportunity to take care of their health and other requirements. On account of the traditional patriarchy followed since time immemorial, often their contribution is not accounted and valued. Communication gap between girls and their parents, other family members is found.
In India both in rural and urban area, women health has been the most neglected aspect. The adolescent girls who are potential women to lead their future lives are ashamed of menstruation. They get information and education on menstruation from her mother and grandmother, who themselves had practiced the unhygienic behaviors for years and thus do not see any harm in the practices of using old cloths during menstruation. However, the use of cloth comes with its own set of problems if it is used unhygienically. Often there is not enough water to wash the menstrual cloth. Even in places where water is in plenty, the secrecy around menstruation does not allow women to wash and dry these cloth bits in the open. Instead, they are dried under other wet clothes, in damp toilets or sometimes even under mattresses. Vaginitis and urinary tract infections were twice as prevalent among women who used cloth during menstruation than those who used sanitary pads, according to a study.
The scenario in Kulpi a community development block consisting of gram panchayats of Baburmahal, Belpukur, Chandipur, Dhola, Gazipur, Iswaripur, Kamarchak, Karanjali, Keoratala, Kulpi, Rajarampur, Ramkishore, Ramkrishnapur and Ramnagar Gazipur is more pathetic as rural women have very less privacy in compare to urban set up. Most of rural women bathe in ponds and wash their menstruation cloths in ponds but dare and feel shy to dry the wash clothes. Sometimes the wet and damp and unhygienic clothes are used by them due of lack of privacy. Few women definitely prefer sanitary napkins than clothing. The sensitization level is also poor. Hence there should be rampant awareness on usage of sanitary napkins during menstruation period along Menstrual Health Management (MHM).
The problems rises in proportion to the affordability to the choices of means adopted for menstrual hygiene management where sanitary napkin is preferred by and large by the women and girls but due to low income and poverty they many times fail to afford it. This further inculcates sense of inferiority and declines their confidence in mobility attending schools, doing even daily household chores and participation. The requirement is production of low cost sanitary napkins and making available to them.
Project details; brief summary, objectives and methodology:
Project Summary:
The proposed project intends to build an enterprise model on a pilot basis in Kulpi where group(s) of women would be nurtured to run the business by themselves with handholding support and overall supervision.
The project will also generating demand and creating awareness among the targeted beneficiaries i.e. adolescent girls and women on the importance of personal and menstrual hygiene management in the marginalized communities, the project will involve many actors such as adolescent girls group, women’s group and Self Help Groups (SHGs).
The main thrust of the project is to develop women as entrepreneurs while channelizing their potentials and imparting training for their skill diversification and becoming self-sufficient as part of the social enterprise of the low cost sanitary napkin business and our responsibility to the society as whole. The project includes identification of beneficiaries, skill training on low cost sanitary napkins production, mechanisms to operate sanitary napkins production machines and finally setting-up a production unit of Cost Effective Sanitary Napkins which will add a financial support and simultaneously will improve the women and girls health by initiating the use hygienic napkins during menstruation period.
Project Goal:
Setting up a low cost sanitary napkin enterprises for proving affordable option for menstrual hygiene management and a business model for creating employability to the rural SHG women in Belpukur under Block-Kulpi, district-South 24 Parganas
Project Objectives:
- To establish low cost sanitary napkin production units managed by rural women/ Self Help Groups in Belpukur for ensuring adequate supply of sanitary napkins at affordable price.
- To improve the economic conditions of 10 rural women & provide them the opportunities for augmenting their income.
- To create awareness among rural girls & women on issues of Menstrual Hygiene Management.
- To engage 10 rural SHG women in production and marketing in Kulpi and Nischintapur market under block Kulpi
1. Selection of Site for Setting-up the Production Unit: The units will be established in Belpukur gram panchayat
2. Preparation/Setting up of Training cum Production Shed: The training will be imparted to the project staff and SHG members for the successful initiation and implementation of the project
3. Engagement of Project Staff: To carry on the activities of the project smoothly and successfully 1 skilled and trained person will be engaged. The proposed project will be one Project Coordinator based at Southern Resque Head Office and One skilled worker for Belpukur gram panchayat. The recruitment and selection of staff will be sole responsibility of Southern Resque.
4. Training on Income Generation Programme, Sanitary napkins making, Production: The skilled worker will deal with targeted rural women through identification, engagement, capacity building and hand holding on low cost sanitary napkins production. The training programmes will be organized separately in field places.
5. Public Awareness programmes
Definitely there will be several public awareness programmes like trainings, workshops, meetings for sensitizing and creating awareness among women and adolescent girls for keeping hygienic practices during menstruation period.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATION FOR THE PROJECT
COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS
Cost of Single Napkin
| S.N. | Particulars | Description | Cost ( in INR) |
| 1 | Raw materials | (Cotton, synthetic materials like rayon, non-woven fabric, wood pulp, sap sheet, gum, packing, tape etc.) | 1.15 |
| 2 | Electricity | As per meter reading | 0.40 |
| 3 | Packing | Attractive and good finishing | 0.15 |
| 4 | Transportation cost | Carrying cost of raw materials | 0.25 |
| 5 | Others like wastage of materials & maintenance charge | During transportation, storage and uses. | 0.05 |
| Total manufacturing cost (In INR) | 2.00 | ||
| S.N | Particulars | Details | Total Cost (in INR) |
| 1. | 8 pads in a pack | 8 pads x INR.2 | 16.00 |
| 2. | Profit margin | 37.5 % of manufacturing cost | 6.00 |
| Selling Price of One pack of 8 sanitary napkins | 22.00 | ||
| S.N. | Particulars | Unit Cost | Total Cost (INR.) |
| 1. | Production unit shed cost | 30,000 | 30,000 |
| 2. | Procurement and transportation of automatic sanitary napkins machine | 6, 00, 000 | 6, 00, 000 |
| 3. | Installation charges | 10,000 | 10,000 |
| 4. | On time raw materials’ support | 1, 00, 000 | 1, 00, 000 |
| Total Capital Investment | 7, 40, 000 | ||
| Particulars | Amount |
| Investment : Raw materials (one time) (including electricity, wastage and transportation) | 1,00,000 |
| Total no. of pads/sanitary napkins manufactured | 50,000 |
| Total No. of Sanitary napkin packets each of 5 napkins in one pack (Total napkins manufactured 50,000/5 napkins in per pack) | 10,000 packets |
| Selling price of one pack napkin (each set of 5 pads) | 22.00 |
| Selling Cost: Total Selling cost of Sanitary Napkins in a month @INR.19 for each packet for 6250 packets | 2,20,000 |
| Net Profit in a month | 1,20,000 |
| # | Particulars | Quantity | Unit Cost | Total budgeted cost |
| I. | Capital Cost | |||
| Ia | Production unit shed cost | 1 | 30,000 | 30,000 |
| Ib | Procurement and transportation of automatic sanitary napkins machine | 1 | 6, 00, 000 | 6, 00, 000 |
| Ic | Installation charges | 1 | 10,000 | 10,000 |
| Id | On time raw materials’ support (for 2 units) | 1 | 1, 00, 000 | 1, 00, 000 |
| Sub-total I | 7,40,000 | |||
| II. | Training, capacity building | |||
| IIa | Staff Training | 1 | 4000 | 4000 |
| IIb | Training to SHG members | 1 | 10,000 | 10,000 |
| Sub-total II | 14,000 | |||
| III. | Human Resource | |||
| IIIa | Project Coordinator | 1 | 25000*12 | 3,00,000 |
| IIIb | Trained worker | 1 | 12000*12 | 1,44,000 |
| Sub-total III | 4.44,000 | |||
| IV. | Napkins machine servicing and maintenance | 1 | 15000 | 15,000 |
| Sub-total IV | 15,000 | |||
| Total Budgeted cost(sub-total I+II+III+IV) | 11,98,000 | |||
