Generic Aadhaar's 'Stree Shakti' Campaign Reaches Hundreds, Expands to More States
Generic Aadhaar's 'Stree Shakti' campaign, launched by 23-year-old Arjun Deshpande, has already reached hundreds of first-time beneficiaries in its initial weeks. The initiative provides free sanitary pads to women and girls in underserved regions, aiming to combat menstrual health disparities.
The campaign, which began in Maharashtra districts like Gadchiroli, Nandurbar, Melghat, and Palghar, targets areas where sanitary napkin use is low due to affordability, lack of awareness, and taboos. Sanitary pads are manufactured at Rs 3 per unit and distributed without profit, ensuring accessibility to those in need. The initiative involves door-to-door campaigns led by Generic Aadhaar's pharmacist teams, delivering pads directly to women and girls. Deshpande, mentored by Ratan Tata, aims to fulfill his mentor's vision of promoting women's health and dignity in rural India.
The campaign's success has led to plans for a second phase. While specific regions are yet to be announced, it is known that high-need areas in Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar, and Jharkhand will be targeted, guided by health vulnerability data.
The 'Stree Shakti' campaign, expanding its vision from pharmaceutical affordability to preventive health for women, has proven effective in its initial phase. With plans to reach more remote regions in the second phase, the campaign continues to strive towards improving menstrual health and dignity for women and girls in underserved areas.
