Alleviating Two Forms Of Poverty Through Management Of Menstrual Health

Every month, Rajni of Sirohi district in Rajasthan faced the same set of challenges while managing her periods. The cotton cloths she relied on brought with them the fear of leaks and stains that could expose something intensely personal. The discomfort and pain of menstruation made daily life harder. And each change of cloth meant finding a way to wash, dry, and dispose of it discreetly in a community where menstruation remained a taboo subject.

Her situation is far from uncommon in rural and tribal India. For millions of women, access to safe and hygienic menstrual products remains limited, affecting their health, dignity, and everyday lives.

India's Supreme Court, in a 2026 ruling, noted that despite gains in toilets and tap connections, 'period poverty' persists due to uneven access and nonfunctional facilities. Period poverty refers to a lack of proper menstrual products and the education needed to use them effectively.

For many women and adolescent girls, menstrual health and economic wellbeing are closely intertwined. Limited income is a contributing factor making hygiene products unaffordable, forcing women and girls to rely on inadequate alternatives. In turn, poor menstrual health management can affect their ability to work, earn, attend school, stay safe and participate fully in daily life, reinforcing the financial constraints that created the challenge in the first place. 

An MHM Fellow, during a visit to her village, introduced Rajni to a reusable stitched cloth pad and convinced her to try it. The difference was immediate. For the first time, she experienced a more comfortable and dignified way of managing her periods. What she had long accepted as an unavoidable part of life suddenly seemed neither inevitable nor necessary.

The experience sparked a larger realisation. If a simple alternative could make such a difference in her own life, it could do the same for women and girls in her community. Motivated by this possibility, Rajni began spreading awareness about cloth pads, helping community women and girls make informed choices about menstrual health, while also creating a new livelihood opportunity for herself.

With support from the MHM Fellow, she learnt to make cloth pads and began selling them in her community. She also overcame the fear of public interactions and started sharing information on menstrual health and hygiene with women and girls across the area.

With the increase in demand, Rajni's enterprise flourished. What began as an individual effort evolved into a family endeavour, with members of her household helping with stitching, packaging, and sales. As the word spread, women from the neighbourhood also joined in.

Today, the enterprise produces around 450 cloth pads every month, generating a regular monthly income of ₹8,000 to ₹10,000. Since June 2022, Rajni and her team have sold 10,416 cloth pads to 4,166 women and girls across neighbouring villages, generating a total revenue of ₹6,77,040

Rajni's entrepreneurial journey has enabled her to become a successful MHM entrepreneur and role model for other women. On International Women's Day, the Department of Women Empowerment recognised her contribution with a district-level prize.