New Delhi: Inspired by Akshay Kumar-starrer Pad Man (2018), a story revolving around a man who dedicated his life to the cause of menstrual hygiene, Delhi-based former brand consultant Anish Sharma's effort towards improving menstrual health and hygiene could well earn him the tag of Delhi’s Pad Man.
After working in the corporate world for over a decade, Sharma left his job to live a life of purpose for his initiative 'Mission Shakti', wherein he created a prototype of a recycled, low-cost, biodegradable sanitary pad worth ₹1 per pad.
Speaking to ETV Bharat on World Menstruation Hygiene Day (May 28), Sharma said, "I congratulate all the women on this day, and I want to say that menstruation is not a curse, it is a blessing as it provides them (women) with the ability to reproduce."
Elaborating on his journey so far, Sharma added, "I was shocked to know that even after 70 years of independence, 80 out of 100 women in India have never used a pad. This inspired me to find an innovative and affordable solution. An idea to use recycled cigarette butts to make sanitary pads struck me. And, I created sanitary pads made out of cigarette butts, gond katira (tragacanth gum) and multani mitti (fuller’s earth).
