Journey of “Suvidha”

In his political life, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya has continuously worked towards women empowerment. In 2004 itself, as an MLA, he took out a 123-km ‘Kanya Kelavani Jyot Padyatra’ and went to 45 educationally backward villages to spread social awareness to educate daughters.

Even when Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya became a minister, he continued to work on women empowerment. Based on his initiatives under Pradhan Mantri Janaushadhi Pariyojana, BPPI released various such products, which are contributing in women empowerment and enabling them to live with dignity. One such product is “Suvidha.” This was announced on March 8, 2018 on the occasion of International Women’s Day. It was a gift from the government to the women of the country on the occasion of Women’s Day. It is a fully oxo-biodegradable sanitary napkin. When it was launched, it was available at the rate of Rs 2.50 per pad. Later its price was reduced to just Re 1 per sanitary pad. Generally, among the sanitary pads available in the market, the average price of a pad is Rs.8. This initiative of Shri Mandaviya ensures cleanliness, health and convenience for the poor, needy and underprivileged women of India. The specialty of this product is that it is economical and hygienic as well as easy to use and dispose of.

According to the National Family Health Survey 2015-16, 58 percent of women in the age group of 15 to 24 uses locally made napkins, sanitary pads and cotton swabs. This shows that Suvidha Sanitary Pads, that are available at just Re 1 at the initiative of Shri Mandaviya, have a huge role to play in ensuring better health for women. Mr. Mandaviya was concerned that the prices of such products from large companies available in the market are very high and because of these poor women were unable to use them. Understanding the pain of women, and their right to a healthy life, he took the initiative of launching ‘Suvidha’ under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana.

Under the leadership of Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Suvidha Sanitary Pads was launched on 5th June, 2018 on the occasion of World Environment Day, within just three months of its announcement. Poor and needy women are getting multiple benefits because of the availability of ‘Suvidha’ sanitary pad at Janaushadhi Kendras for just one rupee. On the one hand, they are getting health related benefits and on the other the women who bought such products at expensive rates now have to spend much less for a better quality product resulting into financial savings too.

UNICEF honoured Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya for his role in launching ‘Suvidha’ sanitary pads and making it available to crores of women at a very affordable rate.