Utkarsh-Sakhi scheme launched on International Women’s Day 8^th
March 2018 on 11:00 AM at Swami Vivekanand School, Wada, Palghar District.  

Utkarsh-Sakhi is a unique scheme from Utkarsh Star Mitra
Mandal (N.G.O.) in which our three-divisions involved i.e. Women’s Education and Empowerment,
Enviornment and Social Justice and Empowerment and first of its kind scheme in
India based on 3 core principles; ACCEPTABILITY, AVAILIBILITY AND AFFORDIBILITY. 

A 4-piece pack of biodegradable and reusable sanitary pads will
be made available free to teenage Government school girls from rural and urban
areas of Maharashtra State and it will cost only ₹50/- to others which
takes cares the AFFORDIBILITY of women’s. Women Self Help Groups, physically challenged
people, drugs-addicted people (socially ignored) will be used to procure and
distribute these sanitary pads as well as spread awareness about women hygiene
so rural women will have ACCEPTABILITY and adapt to this quickly. This will create
long term employment for 10-20 rural women in every village and due to SHG
network already spread across state. AVAILBILITY in remote areas of state will be
taken care of. This will lead to improved hygiene for girls and reduce school drop
outs considerably. The latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 2015-16 report shows that the use
of Sanitary Napkins among Indian women is only 48.5% in rural, 77.5% in urban and only
57.6% total. When we look at it with an environmental perspective, these female
hygiene products can potentially harm your environment because of the plastic
used and the chemicals added to it for absorption of menstrual blood and adding
fragrance.

Ordinary Pads are made from Rayon i.e Recycled
newspaper, plastic and cellulose made from wood Pulp and cotton. The old waste and
newspaper are bleached using chlorine to make it look white. The Byproduct of
the bleaching process are DIOXIN and TRIHALOMETHANE which are retained in pads. Dioxin are group
of chemically related compounds that are persistent environmental pollutants. International
Cancer Research Centre has labelled it as Class 1 cancer causing agent to human. Dioxin causes
Endocrine Disruption, Cervical, Pelvic and breast Cancer, abnormal tissue
growth in abdominal and reproductive organs, Immune system suppression and
Endometriosis.

Utkarsh-Sakhi pads are made from 100% organic, eco-friendly and Bio
degradable materials. Our Pad does not contain the toxic chemicals that disposables seem to
have that can’t be (which are not) good for your body or the environment. It has softer surface, higher
and faster absorption material, anti bioxtic infusion, Dioxin free, odor free. These pads are
made from soft, breathable fabrics that allow for air flow which means there’s less sweating,
irritation when you wear them so there are less chance of getting yeast
infection. Using Utkarsh-Sakhi pad will reduce menstrual cramps, infections and skin rashes and
will also save our environment because its bio degradable.

This is a small step from our
side towards Women Education and Empowerment, so we will be grateful if you
also contribute for this great initiative.

Our Trust is registered under
Government of India’s NITI Aayog and, we are certified by ISO 9001:2015 for this activity. 

We are certified under section
80-G of the Income Tax Act, 1961 and exemption on your donations. 

This activity also falls under
the Corporate Social Responsibility under Schedule VII, Section 135 of The
Companies Act, 2013.