India is one of the biggest developing economies in the world, leading to an exponential growth and difference in its lifestyle of men and women. While Indian society has evolved a lot in the past few decades, there still is a stark irony seen in the position of all women in India. Despite an urban section of the society is headed in the direction of increasing progress, the other section that is ruled by poverty still has not developed enough to let its women be educated.
In parts of the country, women are achieving all that they have not been allowed to achieve so far, while in other remote, less developed parts, women strive to even finish their primary education. This has caused a severe lack of awareness among them, especially regarding their health.
image: humans of bombay
This is when people like Suhani Jalota come in 每 to not just spread health awareness among them, but help them get educated, sustain their lives, and bring the real power in the hands of the ladies. Having studied economics in the US, Jalota has been helping women from the underprivileged section of the society since she was 15, has been volunteering for many social causes, working towards women empowerment in India and even has founded her own NGO called Myna Mahila Foundation, all this at a young age of 23!
And if we thought that was a lot to achieve, wait for this 每 she has met Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and also been invited to the Royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 每 all because of her contribution towards uplifting the women. Her foundation is focused towards empowering women to speak about issues they are most afraid to discuss aloud ※just like the chatty Myna bird,§ Jalota told us.
Image: Suhani Jalota
※We employ women from urban slums in Mumbai to manufacture and sell affordable sanitary pads back into their communities, improving menstrual hygiene, providing stable employment§ she shared with us. She happened to meet Meghan Markle at one of the social functions when she was visiting India and had the opportunity to present her initiative to her. ※She had heard about it and when we met, she really liked the idea of spreading menstrual hygiene awareness among women and equipping them with nominal rate sanitary pads made by women, and for women,§ Jalota said.
After her meeting with Meghan Markle, the Myna Mahila Foundation being selected as one of the 7 charitable organisations that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle chose to channel their wedding gifts and funds and for all her work. ※The Royal couple has decided that the guests who wish to gift them anything can donate the amount worth the gift for a noble cause. They have given us a platform so huge, I am extremely grateful that we were chosen for this,§ she said. Meghan later also visited one of her workshops in Mumbai and watched the women making low-cost sanitary pads themselves.
Image: The Royal Family/Facebook
While last year there was news that thousands of NGOs were banned from receiving any donations from foreign donors, there still are social service group like Jalota＊s that have no problems in taking their cause forward with the help for foreign donors. The NGOs, banned on various grounds that were unacceptable, faced this punishment.
※Currently, Myna is tackling the very issue of menstrual hygiene management at its roots. Working within Mumbai＊s slum dwellers communities, Myna is helping to raise awareness around menstruation and in bringing affordable sanitary products directly to the women in need,§ Jalota told ?us.
Image: Myna Mahila Foundation
She also shared that manufacturing low cost high quality sanitary napkins, more affordable than what is already present on the market and selling them on a door-to-door scheme, ※Myna is able to reach out to women who would usually not step out of their house, out of shame among other reasons, to go buy pads at a nearby chemist and start the conversation to break the taboo about periods,§ she said.