From Agricultural Waste to Sanitary Napkin; Here's a Unique Solution to Air Pollution

While stubble burning is creating a lot of smog or pollution in Delhi and neighboring regions, government, institutions, and people are looking for ways to eliminate this problem.  Delhi was worst hit by stubble burning in Haryana and Punjab. A few days back, a 5 Rupees capsule was introduced to prevent stubble or paddy straw from burning.

Now, Chhattisgarh has come up with a unique idea to use paddy waste to make sanitary pads. Sumita Panjwani, 52 years old, has come up with this innovative idea and has introduced biodegradable sanitary napkins made of fiber and is awaiting validation from the Indian Cotton Research Institute to verify its purpose.

As per reports, Panjwani developed this under the guidance of scientists from IGKV, which is executing the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana-Remuneration Approaches for Agriculture and Rejuvenation of the Allied Sector (RAAFTAR) Center.

Under this scheme, applicants can receive assistance in the development of agricultural products.

The production of ecological sanitary napkins is at a prototype scale and IGKV is seeking subsidy from the Indian Council for Agricultural Research for its large-scale production.

Sumita Panjwani who has a master’s degree in food and nutrition from Dhamtari district said, “I was a former junior scientist at Jawaharlal Nehru Agricultural University; therefore, after enrolling in the RAFTAAR scheme at IGKV, I worked to develop ecological packs from Agricultural waste of rice. stubble. I came up with the idea after reading that about a quarter of the deaths in the world are due to cervical cancer and most women do not pay attention to menstrual hygiene.”

While explaining the idea of a biodegradable sanitary napkin, Panjwani said: “Chhattisgarh produces rice in large quantities and with it also produces agricultural waste. This stubble is used as an absorbent in the sanitary napkin. Rice straw contains about 45% cellulose, also known as fiber, which is obtained after the stubble is properly crushed. ”

Panjwani moreover said the product is still in the evolutionary stage and for the napkin to be leak-proof, it is experimenting with the use of cotton.

“This ecological napkin will help improve women's menstrual health and will not contaminate the environment and soil. If approved, this sanitary napkin could provide employment opportunities in rural areas of Chhattisgarh, since the stubble is in abundance in the villages, and if women participate in the production, this would also make them financially independent, she said.