Empowering Women in Rural India – From Bread Maker to Bread Earner

In India, every year, an estimated 500,000 girls are lost to female feticide.
An estimated 4–12 million sex-selective abortions of girl children have occurred
in different Indian states during the past three decades, and the brutal massacre
continues. All this is because the female population is considered a burden.
Expectations of dowry, heavy financial liaisons with in-laws for life, and cultural
preference for male heirs have resulted in the girl child being considered a burden.

As a result, in rural India, over half of the female population endures bias.
Many need to be offered education, food security, healthcare facilities,
employment opportunities, and struggle for basic rights daily. To address these
significant issues, several multifaceted efforts are being made country-wide. NGOs,
Influential individuals, government channels, and women-centric organizations are
working to promote gender equality, empowering women through education and skill
development, and improving healthcare accessibility.

UNIPADS made headlines at CANNES for efforts in busting myths around menstruation and women’s empowerment.

How UNIPADS Is Bringing In A Paradigm Shift

Unipads is a women-centered, cloth sanitary napkin brand working actively to enhance
women’s lifestyles and women’s menstrual health facilities in rural India.
Since our inception, we have gradually transformed the mindset of rural villagers
by empowering women and young menstruating girls through education and financial
independence. Today UNIPADS represents the dreams and aspirations of countless
women who have defied the odds to break free from poverty and societal conformity.

From Breadmaker To Bread Earner

One of the most profound transformations brought about by UNIPADS is the shift in
how villagers perceive women as breadwinners.

Traditionally, in rural India, women have been relegated to domestic roles.
We have challenged this. By providing employment opportunities to women and
introducing women-centric jobs in UNIPADS manufacturing and distribution networks,
we have played a pivotal role in redefining societal norms. This paradigm shift
isn’t just empowering women financially; it’s significantly altering the societal
narrative surrounding them. Women are no longer seen as mere dependents but as
equals—contributors to their families and communities. Today they are successful
breadwinners and valuable contributors to their community’s economic growth.

UNIPADS Gives Birth To ‘Kalyanis’

Kalyanis is a village-level entrepreneurial program for women that is redefining
the rural economic landscape. The Kalyanis are not just distributors of UNIPADS
at rural levels; they are agents of hope and change in rural India. In villages
where women hesitate to talk to male shopkeepers or family members about menstruation,
UNIPADS trains Kalyanis not just to distribute pads but to educate and answer any
questions related to menstruation, menstrual hygiene, and UNIPADS.

‘My family was low on income. I was worried I would have to take my children out
of school. I was determined not to let this happen. Since I have become a ‘Kalyani’
with UNIPADS, the extra income pays for my kids’ school.’ –
Bhavna, a Kalyani at UNIPADS.

These Kalyanis have become symbols of female empowerment and entrepreneurship,
impacting their communities, one pad at a time.

Number Of Women As Active Earners

UNIPADS has had a huge impact by transitioning over 380 underprivileged women from
being homebound to becoming active earners. This shift is causing a seismic
change in how villagers perceive women and their capabilities. With its various
education drives, employment opportunities, and continued emphasis on the need
for better menstrual hygiene facilities in rural India, it is reshaping rural communities!

Empowerment Through Education

UNIPADS operations place a strong emphasis on providing education, particularly to
young girls. Through our efforts, more than 30,000 girls’ lives are impacted
positively. Our initiatives go beyond teaching girls about menstrual hygiene.
They serve to eradicate the stigma and misinformation surrounding menstruation,
a particularly challenging task in the culturally conservative landscape of rural
India. In
collaboration with organizations that share a similar vision for
philanthropy to empower women, as well as dedicated NGOs working for similar causes,
UNIPADS has made significant strides in women’s education regarding menstrual hygiene.

Today, we don’t only educate but instill confidence and courage in women, empowering
them to embrace their womanhood fearlessly. As UNIPADS continues to pioneer change,
its vision extends to a future where every woman in rural India has access to menstrual
hygiene solutions and the opportunity to lead a life of dignity, empowerment,
and economic independence.

We envision a future where women are recognized not just as caregivers but as
achievers and innovators in their own right.

To be part of this change, get in touch with us . We’d love to chat.