BHARATI PAWASKAR
Discussing menstrual hygiene is no more a taboo, and looking at women’s health issues is equally important as offering them safe alternative options and solutions. As the age to start the first menstruation cycle is dropping worldwide, and more and more girls are maturing at an early age, the need to make them aware of this natural physical phenomenon is also rising. It is necessary to make them aware of the fact that as their choice of sanitary napkins, pads, menstrual cups or cloth makes a difference to their personal health and hygiene, it also makes a lasting impact on the environment. Most sanitary napkins and pads are made of non-degradable material and eventually reach landfills where they sit for decades. How can this be stopped?
Asking this question and finding solutions to stop waste-generation, two women, Vaishali Chauhan and Saritha Sudhakaran, have joined hands and together are set to educate Goans in preventing waste-generation rather than creating waste first and then worrying about disposing it. While Vaishali runs an eco-friendly store in Panaji, Saritha is an urban design space consultant from Margao, who after turning a waste management crusader, has kick started Waste Less Collective now. Both of them have jointly organised a talk and demonstration on ‘Sustainable Menstrual Alternatives and Practices’ on July 4 at 91 Springboard, Panaji between 4-6 pm . The event is open to all, even men.
“We aim at building awareness on sustainable menstrual hygiene practices and management solutions that are safe for our bodies, the environment, sanitation workers and which also reduce the burden on our waste disposal systems,” states Vaishali, proprietor, Dhairyansh Green. At her store she sells reusable cloth pads, period panties, bio-degradable sanitary pads, reusable baby diapers etc along with many other eco-friendly products. She feels that people must learn about the available alternatives which are affordable and available today.
Waste managers can do nothing about sanitary pads, baby/adult diapers as they do not degenerate. Re-usable pads should be the right option for non-degradable sanitary napkins. Saritha who helps people to reduce waste from homes and live a dustbin-free lifestyle, has devised a 12-week programme - Waste Less Project (WLP). WLP educates citizens to reduce their daily waste generation. Waste Less Collective is focused on guiding people about the multiple ways in which they could cut down waste in their daily lives with the use of eco-friendly and sustainable products, wooden combs, ear buds, razors and toothbrushes with bamboo handles and sustainable menstrual products. “WLP has turned into a community programme now and we wish to cover larger area of concern by bringing different communities together to go waste-less. Collective is to bring similar minded people together and we would be partnering with people to promote this concept and simultaneously consult panchayats and municipal bodies in waste management,” informs Saritha who has recently conducted a workshop on how to make cleansing agents and liquid cleaners at home.
“We taught people on how to use soap nut as a base product and mix it with coconut oil, aloe vera, chickpea, cucumber and turmeric to replace some commercial, personal care products. Also, we taught them to use bio-enzymes as a base, mix it with soap nut, baking soda, lime and water to replace the commercial chemical cleaning agents that we often use at home,” shares Saritha who launched the second edition of WLP in June. She has also initiated a barter club where give and take of reusable, recyclable products happens.
“It’s time we take a wise step and reduce creation of waste or be prepared to face the dire consequences,” warns Vaishali. While choosing bio-degradable or reusable, eco-friendly, green products for the store, she came across manufacturers who were aware of the hazardous plastic and the havoc it creates and thus had shifted to bio-degradable products.
“Washable pads are made from organic cloth, do not stain or smell and can be used for 75 cycles or for five years. Washing in soapy water and drying in sunlight is the only thing they need. Reusable diapers brand can be used till the baby is three-year-old. Best is using washable home-made cloth pads and diapers as far as possible as one-time-use diapers/pads take 500 plus years to degrade. It’s time we take a positive step to save the planet,” advocates Vaishali who has started training school students in reducing waste.
