Assessment of Impact Study

On

Women's Empowerment and Livelihood Creation

Supported by NHPC under its

CSR & SD Initiatives

Establishing Manufacturing Unit for Sanitary Napkins at Block Hathin, District Palwal, Haryana NGO Partner – SPYM (New Delhi) Video available at https://youtu.be/UF3gGNPRQV4

By

Dr. Raghwendra Pratap Singh,

Dy. General Manager (HR)

CSR Division

NHPC Ltd.

INDEX

Sl.No. Topic Page No.

1. Introduction……

2. Demography of Hathin Block (palwal)….

3. The project : Establishing Manufacturing Unit for Sanitary Napkins …….

4. Survey data for the use of Sanitary Napkins…

5. CSR initiatives of NHPC…

6. Beneficiaries and Impact ……

7. Conclusion…………

Demography of Hathin Block / Tehsil

Hathin is a Tehsil / Block (CD) in the Palwal District of Haryana. According to Census 2011 information the

sub-district code of Hathin block is 00428. Total area of Hathin is 365 km² including 362.72 km² rural area

and 1.99 km² urban area. Hathin has a population of 2,69,015 peoples

Hathin Tehsil of Palwal district has total population of 269,015 as per the Census 2011. Out of which 142,211 are males while 126,804 are females. In 2011 there were total 40,525 families residing in Hathin Tehsil. The Average Sex Ratio of Hathin Tehsil is 892.

As per Census 2011 out of total population, 5.4% people lives in Urban areas while 94.6% lives in the Rural areas. The average literacy rate in urban areas is 72% while that in the rural areas is 57.9%. Also the Sex Ratio of Urban areas in Hathin Tehsil is 879 while that of Rural areas is 892.

The population of Children of age 0-6 years in Hathin Tehsil is 55756 which is 21% of the total population. There are 29513 male children and 26243 female children between the age 0-6 years. Thus as per the Census 2011 the Child Sex Ratio of Hathin Tehsil is 889 which is less than Average Sex Ratio ( 892 ) of Hathin Tehsil.

The total literacy rate of Hathin Tehsil is 58.66%. The male literacy rate is 59.36% and the female literacy rate is 32.08% in Hathin Tehsil.

Population 269,015

Literacy 58.66%

Sex Ratio 892

To facilitate the administration, Hathin Tehsil is further divided into 1 town and 86 villages.

Hathin Tehsil Data

As per the Population Census 2011 data, following are some quick facts about Hathin Tehsil.

Caste-wise Population - Hathin Tehsil

Schedule Caste (SC) constitutes 8.8% while Schedule Tribe (ST) were 0% of total population in Hathin Tehsil of .

Total Male Female

Schedule Caste 23,737 12,680 11,057

Schedule Tribe 0 0 0

Total Male Female

Children

(Age 0-6)

55,756 29,513 26,243

Literacy 58.66% 59.36% 32.08%

Scheduled

Caste

23,737 12,680 11,057

Scheduled

Tribe

0 0 0

Illiterate 143,920 57,797 86,123

Religion-wise Population - Hathin Tehsil

Religion Total Male Female

Hindu 109,003 (40.52%) 58,251 50,752

Muslim 159,298 (59.22%) 83,584 75,714

Christian 223 (0.08%) 118 105

Sikh 11 (0%) 8 3

Buddhist 53 (0.02%) 31 22

Jain 115 (0.04%) 61 54

Other Religion 4 (0%) 1 3

No Religion Specified 308 (0.11%) 157 151

Literacy Rate - Hathin Tehsil

Average literacy rate of Hathin Tehsil in 2011 were 58.66% in which, male and female literacy were 74.9% and 40.45% respectively. Total literate in Hathin Tehsil were 125,095 of which male and female were 84,414 and 40,681 respectively.

Sex Ratio - Hathin Tehsil

The Sex Ratio of Hathin Tehsil is 892 . Thus for every 1000 men there were 892 females in Hathin Tehsil. Also as per Census 2011, the Child Sex Ration was 889 which is less than Average Sex Ratio ( 892 ) of Hathin Tehsil.

Child Population - Hathin Tehsil

According to Census 2011, there were 55,756 children between age 0 to 6 years in Hathin Tehsil. Out of which 55,756 were male while 55,756 were female.

Urban/Rural Population - Hathin Tehsil

As per Census 2011, there are total 2,377 families under Hathin Tehsil living in urban areas while 2,377 families are living within Rural areas. Thus around 5.4% of total population of Hathin Tehsil lives in Urban areas while 94.6% lives under Rural areas. Population of children (0 - 6 years) in urban region is 2,255 while that in rural region is 53,501.

Total Urban Rural

Population 269,015 14,421 254,594

Children (0 - 6 years) 55,756 2,255 53,501

Schedule Caste 23,737 2,049 21,688

Schedule Tribe 0 0 0

Literacy 58.66% 71.97% 57.85%

Sex Ratio 892 879 892

Working Population - Hathin Tehsil

In Hathin Tehsil out of total population, 82,156 were engaged in work activities. 64.6% of workers describe their work as Main Work (Employment or Earning more than 6 Months) while 35.4% were involved in Marginal activity providing livelihood for less than 6 months. Of 82,156 workers engaged in Main Work, 22,024 were cultivators (owner or co-owner) while 7,796 were Agricultural labourer.

Total Male Female

Main Workers 53,058 45,086 7,972

Cultivators 22,024 18,675 3,349

Agriculture Labourer 7,796 6,123 1,673

Household Industries 874 703 171

Other Workers 22,364 19,585 2,779

Marginal Workers 29,098 14,165 14,933

Non Working 186,859 82,960 103,899

Palwal Railway station / Road connectivity

Located 15 kilometres (9 mi) from Hathin, Palwal is the nearest railway station. The station has 10 platforms. It is one of the largest in India. Numerous trains connect Palwal to Delhi. Fast trains are available for longer distances. Women-only trains run between Palwal and Delhi.

State transport Haryana buses connect the town to district Palwal and with cities like Gurgaon, Delhi, and Chandigarh. Electricity is provided by DHBVN

An updated community health centre, a four-lane highway project from Palwal to Hathin and a bypass from Hathin to link NH-2 is in progress. Improvement of irrigation facilities and improvement of existing government girls school buildings is also under progress.

Education

Schools-

Modish Public School, Hathin

Shanti Niketan Public School, Hathin

Tagore Shiksha Niketan Public School, Hathin

St. John's Public School, Hathin

Yadav Academy School, Hathin

Sehrawat Public School, Hathin

Govt. Boys Sr. Sec. School, Hathin

Govt. Girls Sr. Sec. School, Hathin

Govt. Primary School, Hathin

Mewat Model School Buraka, Hathin|Mewat Model School, Hathin

New D.P.S, Bhanguri Hathin

Krishna Public School, Swamika Hathin

ASM Convent Public School, Hathin

SR Mewat Public School, Hathin

Colleges-

Sehrawat Degree College of Education, Hathin

Yadav Degree College, Hathin

Government Industrial Training Institute, Hathin

Government Polytechnic Uttawar Hathin

Mewat School of Education, Hathin

Government College, Hathin (Palwal)

The Project : Establishing Manufacturing Unit for Sanitary Napkins

The project believes that the poorest of poor have the right to lead a healthy and dignified life. The project’s objective is to create an enabling environment and inculcate in the poor women a sense of confidence which enables them to claim their voice and space in the society. The enabling environment has been created through a set of processes which include organizing the poor into Self Help Groups (SHGs), federating them at village, cluster and block levels so as to create their own institutions, strengthening the institutions of poor through continuous capacity building, opening the door of finance for them, facilitating multiple livelihoods, both individual and group, social development and poverty proofing through social security measures. The confidence amongst the poor is being built through visioning, guiding and continuous hand holding.

Core Concern: A major challenge identified in the region is that women do not have access to sanitary

napkins and are driven to use ashes, newspapers, sand husks and dried leaves during their menstrual cycles. As a result of these unhygienic practices, more than 70% of women suffer from reproductive tract infections, increasing the risk of contracting associated cancers. Solution: It is proposed to bring in a behavioural change in the women by creating awareness about health risks associated with un-hygienic practices followed during menstrual cycle. In order to help them adopt new practices, it is essential that low cost sanitary napkins are made available to them. It is proposed to set up a sanitary napkin manufacturing unit which will not only provide affordable napkins to more than 10,000 women in Hathin Block but also give employment to 25-40 women, directly and indirectly. Salient Features Converts the elaborate process of manufacturing sanitary napkins into a Gandhian model of operation. The tools used in this model are as much "machines" as the charkha, the pestle or the grindstone. In other words, this model harnesses technology for the benefit of the masses. It operates on simple tasks that can be mastered easily and does not require exceptional skills. Addresses the issue of sanitary napkins being unaffordable and/or unavailable to around 90% of Indian women forcing these women to resort to unhygienic alternatives and occasionally face embarrassing situations. A typical sanitary manufacturing unit costs upwards of Rs.3.5 crore and it uses highly skilled labourers. This model envisages production of quality napkins at a fraction of the capital cost. At the same time it would give employment to poor and unskilled women. Process The proposal posed to NHPC is for setting up a Sanitary Napkin Unit in Hathin Block of Palwal district. The project is designed within an overarching objective of women’s empowerment in view of the prevailing socio-economic and political conditions in the region and to bring about a positive change in the position of women within both the household and community. In the implementing agency’s’ perspective, change in women’s condition in terms of their health, hygiene and income and education is required urgently for their true empowerment. A survey sample regarding the use of sanitary napkin was conducted in the area- Sample Survey in Local Area

S.No .

Name

Age

nov

1 9

Phone. No

Village

Current

Measur

e s

Current

Pad

Bran

d

Willingne ss to Adopt

our

Bran

d

Do they find it

afforda

bl e

1 Priyanka 18 8930856843 Palwal Cloth Yes Yes

2 Nahida 14 9050543958 Palwal Pad Whisper

Yes Yes

3 Soniya 18 8053572267 Palwal Pad Whisper

Yes Yes

4 Usha 27 9870205597 Palwal Cloth Yes Yes

5 Aarti 33 8901240526 Palwal Cloth Yes Yes

6 Nekwati 45 9466534476 Palwal Cloth Yes Yes

7 Kajal 18 8929908277 Palwal Cloth Yes Yes

8 Sunita 30 7082682830 Palwal Pad Whisper

Yes Yes

9 Sonam 20 9518488040 Palwal Pad Whisper

Yes Yes

11 Nisha 18 8685090086 Palwal Pad Whispe Yes Yes

r

12 Garima 16 9891270057 Palwal Pad Whisper

Yes Yes

13 Lipika 29 9034044610 Palwal Cloth Yes Yes

14 Sapna 18 8053337066 Palwal Pad Whisper

Yes Yes

15 Deepa 18 9654210691 Palwal Cloth Yes Yes

16 Sangeeta 22 9899774277 Palwal Cloth Yes Yes

17 Soniya 18 8818075218 Palwal Cloth Yes Yes

18 Shweta 14 9518478895 Palwal Cloth Yes Yes

19 Kajal 16 9813809096 Palwal Pad Whisper

Yes Yes

20 Aarti 22 8685021246 Palwal Pad Whisper

Yes Yes

21 Anjali 16 9050280667 Palwal Pad Whisper

Yes Yes

22 Sashi bala

22 8053107619 Palwal Pad Whisper

Yes Yes

23 Anjali 16 9253181532 Palwal Cloth Yes Yes

24 Neha 22 9518478895 Palwal Cloth Yes Yes

25 Shalu 15 7027412245 Palwal Cloth Yes Yes

26 Preeti 18 9896409670 Palwal Pad Whisper

Yes Yes

27 Sewana 12 9050543958 Palwal Pad Whisper

Yes Yes

28 Nisha 25 9728967450 Palwal Cloth Yes Yes

29 Bandana 16 9991007693 Palwal Cloth Yes Yes

30 Poonam 8571057886 Palwal Cloth Yes Yes

31 Kavita 30 9050145570 Palwal Cloth Yes Yes

32

Geeta

20

9050721019

Kanwerk a

Cloth

Yes

Yes

33

Babli

18

8053475824

Kanwerk a

Cloth

Yes

Yes

34

Manoj

32

8570798062

Kanwerk a

Cloth

Yes

Yes

35

Roshni

21

9050721019

Kanwerk a

Pad

Local

Yes

Yes

36

Bharti

23

9050788280

Kanwerk a

Pad

Local

Yes

Yes

37

Neha

22

9050721019

Kanwerk a

Pad

Local

Yes

Yes

38

Umesh

32

9996464849

Kanwerk a

Pad

Local

Yes

Yes

39

Rajbala

25

7056874606

Kanwerk a

Cloth

Yes

Yes

40

Vimla

32

9729906501

Kanwerk a

Pad

Local

Yes

Yes

41

Suman

24

9671324380

Kanwerk a

Cloth

Yes

Yes

42

Geeta

26

Kanwerk a

Pad

Local

Yes

Yes

43

Kailaso

35

Kanwerk a

Pad

Local

Yes

Yes

44

Bala

20

9671850483

Kanwerk a

Cloth

Yes

Yes

45

Rajbala

38

8930980040

Kanwerk a

Cloth

Yes

Yes

46

Jalwati

35

Kanwerk a

Pad

Local

Yes

Yes

47 Shabnam 21 9991914714 Mehluka

Cloth Yes Yes

48 Laltesh 29 7027841557 Mehluka

Cloth Yes Yes

49 Baseri 45 Mehluka

Cloth Yes Yes

50 Asri 50 Mehluka

Cloth Yes Yes

51 Jarina 45 Mehluka

Cloth Yes Yes

52 Shabnam 25 8053132139 Mehluka

Cloth Yes Yes

53 Sama 20 8930565614 Mehluka

Cloth Yes Yes

54 Rasiden 35 9812666530 Mehluka

Cloth Yes Yes

55 Arshida 45 9950303414 Mehluka

Cloth Yes Yes

56 Akberi 50 9711598804 Mehluka

Cloth Yes Yes

57

Salma

13

9813353855 2

Mehluk

a

Cloth

Yes

Yes

58 Mushkan 12 9813353852 Mehluka

Cloth Yes Yes

59 Sman 24 9813825370 Mehluka

Cloth Yes Yes

60 Magri 60 Mehluka Cloth Yes Yes

61 Warisa 20 8813809245 Mehluka Cloth Yes Yes

62 Najrana 20 9050565657 Mehluka Cloth Yes Yes

63 Sharona 18 Mehluka Cloth Yes Yes

64 Sarmeen 16 Mehluka Cloth Yes Yes

65 Thsuna 16 Mehluka Cloth Yes Yes

66 Rukhsar 17 9813353852 Mehluka Cloth Yes Yes

67

Najma khan

17

9812666530

Mehluka

Cloth

Yes

Yes

68 Rubeena 18 8813980254 Mehluka Cloth Yes Yes

69 Rakhi 18 9050745187 Hathin Pad Ammy Yes Yes

70 Sanjna 16 9050745187 Hathin Cloth Yes Yes

71 Mushkan 19 9306365418 Hathin Cloth Yes Yes

72 Annu 23 9306365418 Hathin Cloth Yes Yes

73 Reeta 30 7419004875 Hathin Cloth Yes Yes

74 Meena 32 7419004875 Hathin Cloth Yes Yes

75 Sangeeta 22 7419004875 Hathin Cloth Yes Yes

76

Dhramwa ti

35

7419004875

Hathin

Pad

Ammy

Yes

Yes

77 Aproj 33 7419004875 Hathin Pad Ammy Yes Yes

78 Samina 32 7419004875 Hathin Pad Ammy Yes Yes

79 Rohima 21 7419004875 Hathin Cloth Yes Yes

80 Deepa 22 860774389 Hathin Pad Whisper Yes Yes

81 Reeta 32 818578082 Hathin Pad Whisper Yes Yes

82 Reeta 24 9306365418 Hathin Pad Whisper Yes Yes

83 Babita 35 8053730981 Hathin Pad Whisper Yes Yes

84 Bhawna 16 9540419418 Hathin Pad Whisper Yes Yes

85 Sitara 22 8395954986 Hathin Cloth Yes Yes

86 Bala 34 9306365418 Hathin Pad Whisper Yes Yes

87 Vidhya 18 9306365418 Hathin Pad Whisper Yes Yes

88 Indira 36 9992160388 Hathin Pad Whisper Yes Yes

98 Kamlesh 33 9671603035 Hathin Pad Whisper Yes Yes

90 savita 32 Hathin Pad Whisper Yes Yes

91 Kiran 25 Hathin Pad Whisper Yes Yes

92 sarita 20 Hathin Cloth Yes Yes

93

Mukhtyar i

35

Hathin

Cloth

Yes

Yes

94 Seema 22 8930650371 Hathin Cloth Yes Yes

95 Suhaliya 20 9991850278 Hathin Pad Yes Yes

96 Sonal 11 8930754160 Hathin Cloth Yes Yes

97 Renu 23 8053847371 Hathin Cloth Yes Yes

98 Anita 24 9306365418 Hathin Cloth Yes Yes

99 Sabin 19 8059235209 Hathin Pad Whisper

Yes Yes

100 santosh 20 8930441321 Hathin Pad Whisper

Yes Yes

Setup of Unit Infrastructure- The

project started in March 2018 and

commissioned by March 2019.

There has been a delay of over

one year in execution of the

project.

sanitary napkin

machine and it took

some time to identify.

The machine purchased from M/s Saral Designs, Mumbai and Raw material (imported) reached the unit in March 2019.

Initial stabilization and commercial production began by September 2019.

After setting up of Sanitary Napkin Unit in Hathin Block of Palwal district, six persons were trained in running of the machine, including four women. These persons are running the machine on a day to day basis. The process of training included machine operation, sterilization, quality control, ledger management and packaging. Two engineers from M/s Saral Design were engaged for a fortnight who provided comprehensive training on all modules.

Details of Staff Employed at Sanitary Napkin Unit:

S.No Name Role Aadhaar No. Phone No.

1. Dharamveer Machine Operator 791250867651 8988810076

2. Suman Machine Operator 594013508788 9671698347

3. Asha Machine Operator 608049483474 8930808917

4. Seema Packaging Staff 653403909299 N/A

5. Renu Packaging Staff 561600884538 9728275849

6. Rachna Packaging Staff 775183530471 9728275849

Simultaneously, a Community Development Officer was trained to introduce the product in market through retail outlets., Developed a chain of 100 shops where pads under the brand names “Asmita” and “Active Plus” are being sold. All these outlets are rural shops being run by women from our network or their close relatives. The product has added additional income to the tune of Rs.400 – 500 per month to their kitty.

Outcomes

Market survey and base line survey completed during the period January - March 2019.Continuous surveys conducted during April 2019 – November, 2019 to constantly monitor the change in behavior Manufacturing unit set up and adequate raw material purchased by March 2019.The production unit is functioning satisfactorily. It has started commercial production since September, 2019.Quality issues relating to Transfer Adhesive Tapes, Easy Tape, Release papers etc. had been sorted out before. starting free sampling and sale of product. Field trials of our product were held in the entire month of September - October, 2019. Free samples were given to over 200 women. More than 130 women gave positive feedback. 10 negative whereas feedbacks were received and 60 women have not responded. Skills of community cadre have been developed and they are going to the field and conducting awareness generation. They in turn have identified Sanginis who will assist them in deepening the penetration in villages. Currently 9 Senior Sanginis and around 20 Sanginis have been trained and on boarded. They are working on awareness generation and sale of pads. We have covered 10 villages of Hathin Block and given presentation to around 2000 women and adolescents. This community mobilization was done with support of REC Foundation who have borne all cost related to training and capacity building of rural community. Free samples have been distributed to around 550 women and adolescents. Feedback from them is being received regularly and our database is being updated. In the direction of Branding and packaging and have developed a brand called Active + (280 mm). This brand is proposed to be sold directly in villages through door to door selling by our Sanginis. We have also developed a brand called “Asmita” (240 mm) & (320 mm) which we market through 100 rural shops. So far as income generation of our community cadre is concerned, the Senior Sanginis are earning Rs.700 per session of 60 women for awareness generation. They earn commission of Rs. 3 per packet on sale of pads. Senior Sanginis are being invited by other organizations for workshops. Currently the stream of earning for

the Sanginis comes from sale of pad. They will gradually be upgraded as Senior Sanginis when they can also earn money by holding awareness sessions. The SHG women from our network who are running shops are also earning decent margins from stocking our products. On an average Rs.200 – Rs.400 per week is being earned by them by sale of pads. The major impact of the project has been removal of taboo from the topic of menstruation in the villages. To sum up, all goals set forth in the project have been achieved fully and the project has made a very positive impact on the health of women and adolescents of Hathin Block, district Palwal.

----------- X ---------