Recognizing that sustainability is linked to reusable products rather disposable products, for this panel we have invited reusable product manufacturers as well as people outside the sector to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of cloth pads and menstrual cups in the varied social landscape of India. The debate also touches on the viability of using cloth, traditionally the most common means of menstrual hygiene protection, in India.
We are starting Week 4 of our #periodofchange campaign with the webinar on Saturday, May 16th 12-01 pm IST. The theme for this is “Reusable menstrual hygiene products: pros and cons”. You can sign up to watch the webinar live and leave your questions on this link.
Panelists include:
Ashish Malani
Ashish Malani is a Chartered Accountant from 16 years who has worked with corporate houses like Birla’s, Binani’s etc. He has also worked internationally being based in London and Turkey with various social projects in sectors of education, healthcare and environment. He is currently affiliated with MediAceso Healthcare is a social enterprise based in Mumbai working in the field of Menstrual Hygiene Management for aabout 6 years. It conducts Health & Environment Awareness programs for girls & women in both the rural and the urban sectors. Such programs are conducted in Schools, Colleges, medical institutes, women social groups and corporate offices (like Jet Airways, TAJ, Indigo Airlines etc).
Dhirendra Pratap Singh
Dhirendra is the President and co-founder of Milaan, which is a youth-led non-profit organization to empower socially and economically challenged youth. With a Masters degree in Development Studies from Amity University, he has also been a recipient of the Karamveer Puruskar and Youth Ambassador for Peace Award by Universal Peace Federation on 24th Jan 2007. In the past, Dhirendra has worked with many international and national development organizations like Vidya Grants India, United Way of Delhi, ASER, etc. He is also the Co-Founder of Azadi, an US based impact venture, with a commitment to making menstruation a non-issue in India.
Kathy Walkling
Kathy Walkling is co founder of Eco Femme – a global women’s empowerment initiative that promotes and revitalizes menstrual practices that are healthy, dignified, affordable and environmentally sustainable. Originally from Australia, she has lived in Auroville since 1997. Since moving to India, she began to directly experience the problems of dealing with sanitary waste for the first time. Her own switch to using cloth washable pads soon after had such a positive impact in her life that it inspired her to make this option available to other women.
Ruchika Gandhi
Born and brought up in Delhi, Ruchika started off as a volunteer in GOONJ and has been with the organization for over a decade now. Second youngest among six sisters she made up her mind very early on ‘Why GOONJ’ and why not something else. Many people still wonder that ‘why’. At GOONJ, she is known for her untiring energy and ready to take up any task that comes on her table. She is closely involved in interacting with various stakeholders including corporate, schools, implementation partners and instrumental in the overall management of the organization. She is passionate about traveling in rural parts, meeting people and tries to give her best in whatever she does.
Lakshmi Murthy
Lakshmi Murthy graduated from the National Institute of Design in 1986. Since then, she has both lived and worked at Udaipur in Rajasthan, running a design studio, Vikalpdesign. She also leads the “Sukarkshit Mahwari Abhiyan”, a Safe Menstruation Campaign, and the Uger Reusable Sanitary Napkin Production unit together with Jatan Sansthan at Rajsamand and Udaipur district. Her work includes training programmes on Reproductive and Sexual Health. She has been a recipient of the CSC Meritorious Commendation award, awarded by the Centre for Communication and Social Change, The University of Queensland, Australia in 2009. She is currently enrolled for a Doctoral Programme at the Industrial Design Centre, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, India, researching on Menstruation Management and Sustainability.
Shilpi Sahu
Shilpi Sahu, alumini of IIT Kharagrpur and Carnegie Mellon University, an R&D engineer by profession, has been trying to make sustainable choices in her life, whether it is waste management, carpooling/cycling to work or managing sustainable periods. She has discovered that journey to a more sustainable life has not been about making compromises (at all!), but about living a healthier, cheaper and happier life. She is also a marathoner and mother of a 7 year old music prodigy.
You can watch the event live 12 pm onwards on Saturday, May 16th IST:
This post is part of Period Of Change, a 5-week campaign organized by The Kachra Projectalong with Earth&us that aims to mobilize people (both men and women) around menstrual waste as a starting point to lobby for change in current practices in MH waste management.
Sign the petition to amend Draft Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2015 referred to as MSW Rules 2015 be amended for proper management of absorbent hygiene product waste (which includes menstrual hygiene waste).
