๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐: ๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฌ
Kalmuste is a small tribal village in Nashik, surrounded by hills. Behind its beauty, women carried a silent struggle for years. Sanitary pads were rare and expensive. Many girls and women had never seen a proper pad. Most relied on old cloth, washed and dried in secret, hidden from others. Cultural taboos and stigma made menstruation a topic never discussed, even between mothers and daughters.
Among these women was Yogita Ghote, 34, a Sakhi and farmer. She remembers her own strugglesโmissing school, feeling embarrassed, and often suffering infections. She didnโt want the next generation of girls to endure the same pain.
When SSP, in partnership with Mankind Pharma CSR, installed a sanitary pad vending machine in Kalmuste, Yogita saw hope. She took initiative, speaking to mothers, daughters, and groups of shy girls who feared asking questions. With patience and empathy, she explained safety, affordability, and proper usage, saying, โThere is nothing to be ashamed of. Menstruation is strength, not a burden.โ
Slowly, change began. The first time a young girl confidently used the vending machine, Yogita felt tears in her eyes. Today, more than half the women in the village regularly access sanitary pads. Girls attend school comfortably, and women report feeling cleaner, healthier, and more confident. The vending machine has become a vital resource, increasing pad usage by around 30% and reducing stigma around menstruation.
Beyond products, Yogita leads health awareness sessions for over 550 residents, teaching hygiene practices and safe disposal methods. School attendance among girls has increased, and hygiene-related health complaints have decreased by 30%. Mothers now talk openly to daughters about menstrual health, and the community is slowly embracing better practices.
Yogita dreams of making Kalmuste a model health village with 100% coverage in awareness programs, sustainable hygiene practices, and accessible resources. Her courage and leadership show how one woman can break the silence and create lasting change.
โWhen women lead, communities thrive. Together, we can build a healthier future.โ
Swayam Shikshan Prayog
18 December, 2025