Former DGP Dr. R. Nataraj MLA Launches Vocational Centre for producing low cost Sanitary Napkins
Former DGP Dr. R. Nataraj MLA Launches Vocational Centre for producing low cost Sanitary Napkins, to benefit underprivileged school girls
• Rotary club of Madras North to manufacture 6 lakh pads p.a. to distribute via NGOs at cost price with Dr. MGR-Janaki College for Women
Chennai, 20 July 2019:
Former DGP Dr. R. Nataraj MLA, inaugurated the Vocational Center at Dr. MGR-Janaki College, R.A. Pura, under the Project Kannamma initiative in the presence of Ms. Vanathi Srinivasan, General Secretary, BJP, Tamil Nadu, Rtn. Kamal Sanghvi, Director (2019-21), Rotary International and Padmashri Arunachalam Muruganantham, Social Entrepreneur, Jayaashree Industries, Coimbatore, Rtn. G. Chandramohan, District Governor, RI District 3232, Dr. Mariazeena Johnson, Chancellor, Sathyabama Institute of Science & Technology.
The 800 sqft centre with its sanitary pads manufacturing machine has the capacity to produce 6 lakh pads per annum was initiated by the Rotary Club of Madras North in association with Dr. MGR-Janaki College for Women at its college campus.
“This centre is a First-of-its-kind facility in Chennai, promoted by a Social Service Organization or a College. The objective of Project Kannamma is to provide sanitary pads and ensure sanitary hygiene is maintained regularly by school going children. Over 20% of production of pads will be distributed free of cost by our Club to the Government School girls and 80% will be sold to other Rotary Clubs and NGOs at cost price. Our cost price is Rs. 25 for a pack of 10 pads, whereas in the market the same would be higher for a pack of 10,” said Rtn. M. Ganapathi, President, Rotary Club of Madras North.
“This Vocational Centre has been established at a project cost of Rs. 10 lakhs including space, plant and machinery. We would be employing 8 women including some speech and hearing impaired to manufacture these pads. The high-quality, yet low cost sanitary napkins branded Kannamma, will be now available at FREE OF COST to the 4000+ students of Dr. MGR-Janaki College for Women also,” said Mr. Kumar Rajendran, Chairman, Dr. MGR-Janaki College of Arts and Science for Women.
It must be recalled that last August, this project was initiated with 82 Govt. School children in Uthandi, on the outskirts of Chennai with a view that no girl child should ever drop out of school or miss an opportunity due to something as natural as her period. On an average, in India, 23 lakh girl children drop out of school for the lack for access to sanitary pads. Further still, they resort to unhealthy alternatives like dirty rags, hay and ash and do not even own a pair of underwear.
To eradicate this unhygienic habit and improvise the standard of living for these girls, the Club is currently distributing 100 pads and 5 under garments per annum, free of cost to each school going girl. Over 400 girls are benefiting out of this project with the number expected to touch 1000 in the current academic year. Additionally, a qualified Gynecologist will be addressing nutrition and hygiene concerns of the children once in a year,” said Rtn. M. Ganapathi.
The inauguration of the Vocational Centre had other eminent Dignitaries such as Rtn. G. Olivannan, Project Advisor, Rtn. N. Venkatesh, Project Coordinator, Rtn. John Frederick, Secretary, Ms. Sugirda Nishanth, Project Chairman also present along with the members of the Rotary Club of Madras North supporting this initiative.
