Stitching Dignity and Change, One Menstrual Cloth Pad at a Time
👋Hello Readers,
Today’s edition combines warm tales, creative ideas and the rich culture of our people. There is a lot of goodness to focus on and happy endings in these great stories! 😊✨
Wherein, uplifting stories of people helping one another in crisis and cutting-edge breakthroughs that aid in improving living conditions in the society today, we seek out the optimism around us. Wondering where all the good news is about some persons doing great things or perhaps local legends and the works they are doing in the society? We have those and more! 🎉🙌
So, buckle up and start this.
💬 Navigating Perspectives
For Geeta Solanki, the journey to revolutionise menstrual health began with personal pain and a quiet act of care. Suffering from a painful cyst, Geeta found disposable pads unbearable and reluctantly tried a soft cotton cloth, as her mother suggested. To her surprise, the cloth brought relief. This simple experience planted the seed for a movement that would later empower thousands of women across rural India.
The High Cost of Menstruation
Growing up in Veraval, Gujarat, Geeta witnessed the struggles rural women faced during their periods. Disposable pads were a luxury, reserved for special occasions like weddings, while most women stretched a single pad across an entire day, risking infections and discomfort. These memories, combined with her own experiences and work as a childbirth educator, inspired Geeta to create an affordable, sustainable solution: a reusable cloth pad that prioritised both health and dignity.
Breaking Taboos, Stitch by Stitch
Starting Unipads was no easy feat. Menstruation remained a taboo subject, and convincing families to let women work in this field was a challenge. Geeta and her team cleverly introduced paid tailoring classes, teaching women valuable skills while gently opening up conversations about periods. This approach transformed not just their skills, but also their confidence and sense of community. The first group of 11 women grew into a network of over 186, all proudly contributing to Unipads’ mission.
Empowerment Beyond Hygiene
Unipads’ impact goes far beyond providing menstrual products. The company’s “Kalyani” network trains women to become both resellers and educators, arming them with knowledge about menstrual health. For many, this was the first time they truly understood their own bodies. Women like Manisha, once confined to their homes, now confidently lead hygiene sessions in schools and communities, inspiring others and earning their own income.
Challenging Stigma and Celebrating Change
Unipads has tackled deep-rooted taboos head-on, from fighting the exclusion of menstruating women in kitchens to launching school initiatives that reward girls for regular attendance during their periods. Their bold campaigns have even gained international recognition, including a Silver Glass Lion at Cannes. Through these efforts, Unipads is not just selling pads—it’s fostering dignity, dialogue, and real social change.
More Than a Product
With millions of kits sold and countless lives touched, Unipads stands as a testament to the power of empathy, innovation, and grassroots action. In a society where menstruation is often silenced, Geeta and her team have stitched together a movement that gives women pride, purpose, and a voice—one cloth pad at a time.
🗣️ Stories that Matter
Mahira’s personal story reveals the emotional toll of caring for a sister with schizophrenia in India. As caregiving consumed her youth, Mahira faced burnout and isolation, highlighting the lack of support for families. Her journey underscores the urgent need for awareness, empathy, and accessible mental health resources for caregivers.
Sanket Mehta left banking to start Nutrifresh in Pune, using hydroponic farming to grow over 42 pesticide-free vegetables and herbs. Nutrifresh employs rural women, delivers fresh produce within 24 hours, and serves 40,000+ homes across India, promoting clean, sustainable food and empowering local communities.
Chef Regi Mathew’s Chatti restaurant in Manhattan brings Kerala’s toddy shop culture to New York, offering authentic dishes like prawn pouches, duck mappas, and seafood moilee. Inspired by Kerala’s community dining and slow-cooked flavours, Chatti recreates the region’s culinary and cultural experience in a vibrant, welcoming setting.
Veena Peter, inspired by her daughter, founded Tara’s Doll House in Bengaluru, crafting sustainable, customisation, handmade dolls from natural materials. What began as a personal project now empowers women, promotes eco-friendly play, and celebrates Indian culture, producing 150–200 unique dolls monthly, blending tradition, creativity, and heartfelt entrepreneurship.
💡Do you know what day it is!
Mount Everest Day (also known as International Everest Day) internationally, commemorating the first successful ascent of Mount Everest.
🔖 Quote of the day
“The only limit to our realisation of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.”
In the final words of Today’s India, we trust that you have been encouraged by the beautiful stories that have lifted the country up. Be it the startups or old practices to more sociable stories making sure that no one is left behind, there is always a sense of progress and oneness.
As we take these strides, let’s make sure we promote kindness, creativity, and teamwork. And till the next time; may you take pleasure in bringing happiness and inquisitiveness in your day to day activities!
Don’t Miss Out!!! See You Tomorrow!!! ⏰
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