Prayagraj: In-a-first, a social organisation is planning to set up sanitary pad banks around Maha Kumbh campus especially to cater to the needs of a large number of the underprivileged women working in and around the mela area. The bank will be set up by Shuruaat–Ek Jyoti Shikha, an organisation running UP’s third largest sanitary pad bank that distributes pads among girls and women from unprivileged society in Prayagraj region. If approved by Mela authorities, the banks will come up at Tiraha park and Parade area during the Maha Kumbh.
Started 3 years ago at Alopibagh by Abhishek Shukla (30), the organisation distributes pads among over 500 women monthly free of cost. Abhishek, who is also known as Pad Man of Prayagraj, told TOI that: “We have approached Kumbh Mela authorities to set up the pad bank around mela campus to benefit the women with the thought that this small step would offer a major relief to the girls and women living and working in mela campus and help them understand the importance of menstrual hygiene .” Abhishek, who makes a living by teaching students from slums and poor families at his house, said the idea about pad bank came up about five years ago.
He said the menstruating girls often skipped classes and were hesitant in discussing anything about menstrual hygiene. “When our female volunteers spoke to these girls, we came to know that they were using used and dirty clothes during their periods which was very unhygienic. Then our team sat together and decided to chalk out a proper strategy to address the problem.
We persuaded the girls and women to ensure proper menstrual hygiene and speak up candidly on the issue,” said Abhishek. On Jan 1, 2021, Abhishek set up a sanitary pad bank at his house. He said most of the funding comes from patrons of the organisation.
“Even our volunteers pitch in and donate money for procuring pads,” he said adding that “Since the start of the bank, over 200 girls became its customers between Jan and Mar 2021 alone. The pad bank has gained popularity among girls and women living in slums and on the outskirts of the city, as they travel 8 to 10 km to get sanitary pads free of cost.” A group of volunteers are entrusted with maintaining the accounts and stocking the pads.
The project is aimed at building a bond between all genders to help erase the social taboo around menstruation, said Abhishek. He said the bank maintains records of customers. Prayagraj is the third city in UP to open a pad bank after Bareilly and Ghaziabad.
ADM Maha Kumbh Mela Vivek Chaturvedi said: “It is a novel initiative and if a proposal comes up officially it will be considered, and all due support will be provided.”.
