JKRLM UMEED: In a first in Kashmir, women SHG manufacture sanitary napkins in Bandipora

JKRLM UMEED: In a first in Kashmir, women SHG manufacture sanitary napkins in Bandipora

Hajin: In a first-of-its-kind in Kashmir Valley, a Self Help Group comprising eleven members started locally manufacturing and marketing sanitary napkins for enhancing their incomes and ensuring better health and hygiene of the village women.

The initiative was started by a group of women from Shahgund village of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district with the support of the JKRLM UMEED and in just a few months, the women have manufactured and marketed a large number of sanitary napkins under the brand name of ‘Rahat Health and Wellbeing.

The unit was formally inaugurated by BDC Chairman Hajin Nazir Ahmad. During the inauguration, District Program Manager Livelihoods Owais Ahamd, IBCB Shreen Shafi, Block Programme Manager Hajin Mehmooda Ji, PRIs, a team of JKRLM, and SHG members were present.

A group of 11 members got the unique idea to deal with the production of sanitary napkins. The Self Help Group (SHG) members were trained for the successful running of the unit.

The owner of this sanitary napkin unit Raziya said its cost is also low as compared to others. She said they are thankful to JKRLM for providing them with an opportunity to not only script their success story but also earn their livelihood.

“This activity would help in improving the health of rural women and also generate revenue for us,” she said. “We have faced tremendous challenges while choosing this business but we never turned back and carry on our mission of manufacturing sanitary napkins. We hope to perform even better in the future.”

The SHG members said that although these are early days, the group has been able to make 1000 to 1200 napkins per day.

“We expect to produce around 2000 pieces of napkins per day,” Raziya said. “We are ready to market our products as we were waiting for its official launching ceremony. Our dream is that product gets worldwide market.”

Raziya said they have received training and equipment for making sanitary napkins in Mumbai with the help of JKRLM UMEED.

“My family supported my idea and JKRLM provided us financial help for setting up a production unit which we run under the name of Rahat health and wellbeing cooperative limited,” she said, adding that a pad can not only save a woman but it can also save her family because we all know that ladies are the main pillars of the family.

“We want our brand gets much attention not only in Kashmir but at national and international level as well. We have tested our brand on ourselves first then we are selling it in the market. We assure women folk to make full use of our brand which is full of verified and certified by the department,” she said.

Raziya, however, added, “We are not saying other brands are not good but ours is also good and at a low cost and affordable for rural women.”

She expressed gratitude to JKRLM Block Hajin saying that without their support, it was not possible to achieve the feat. “This is a dream come true for us,” she said. “We urge other girls to come forward like us to avail the govt schemes which are aimed to make women self-sufficient and independent.”

 

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