Prayagraj: With state govt providing a platform through the State Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM) to empower women economically and make them self-reliant, a group of rural women are receiving training and financial assistance—guided by the ‘Vocal for Local’ theme—to produce goods and services for health and hygiene from the comfort of their own homes.Urmila Devi, from Barna Phulpur in Prayagraj, leads one such group—‘Shashwat Group’. She explains that after completing her daily household chores, she used her spare time to strengthen her financial position along with 15 other women from the village and formed a self-help group. Following discussions with the local administration regarding the issue, her group received training in the production of sanitary pads. They also received financial assistance from the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM).Due to a lack of awareness in rural areas, health-related issues concerning girls and women were rarely discussed openly. Chief development officer (Prayagraj) Harshika Singh notes that the landscape changed significantly thanks to digital information dissemination and various campaigns launched by govt.Currently, women belonging to more than six self-help groups across the district are engaged in manufacturing sanitary pads. After packaging the products, they distribute them throughout the rural areas. In this district alone, over 150 women achieved self-reliance through this initiative.The Shashwat Group, in particular, supplies sanitary pads—produced by its members—to 15 neighbouring villages at affordable prices making it accessible to the average woman.
