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From Floods To Self-Reliance: Charsadda's Neelam Bibi Empowers Women With Reusable Sanitary Pads
(MENAFN- Tribal News Network) -->
A 45-year-old resident of Aghra Payan in Charsadda district, Neelam Bibi is among the women who, despite social constraints and limited resources, are creating opportunities for other women in their community.
Neelam has set up a small centre in her home where she and several local women produce hand-made sanitary pads that, according to her, can be reused for up to a year after washing.
She recalls that the devastating floods of 2022 severely affected homes and livelihoods across Charsadda and other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but for women, the crisis brought an additional layer of hardship.
She says many women were forced to live in tents and open spaces without access to sanitary pads, causing them immense distress.“We gave whatever cloth we could find to the affected women so they could at least manage to stay somewhat safe and covered,” she says.
During this period, an NGO provided sanitary pads to flood-affected women, which helped meet the immediate need. But the situation left Neelam with a lingering question: What if such a disaster happens again? This question, she says, made her reflect deeply.“I decided to start making pads myself, something affordable and reusable, so that women wouldn't suffer aga7in during crises or poverty.”
Also Read: KP Govt Slams The Economist Report as“Baseless Propaganda”, Announces Move to Approach Global ForumsWith that intention, she launched a small home-based centre where she began producing reusable pads using clean, locally available cloth and materials.
Today, five women work regularly at Neelam's centre. The initiative not only supplies low-cost sanitary pads to women in the area but has also become a source of livelihood for families with no prior income.“We make pads every day,” Neelam says.“Women now have access to clean and safe products, and the income from this work keeps many household kitchens running.”
Neelam believes her efforts have helped reduce the hesitation around discussing menstruation in Aghra Payan and nearby areas.“In our society, talking about undergarments or menstrual health is considered inappropriate,” she says.“But now people are starting to understand that it's not something to be ashamed of, it's a matter of health and dignity.”
She adds that four to five similar centres have now been established across different parts of Charsadda, where hundreds of women are producing hand-made sanitary pads for the local market.
These pads, she says, are not only affordable and reliable but are fast becoming a symbol of women's empowerment and dignity in the region.
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