To Stop Plastic Pollution, Fully Biodegradable Low-Cost Sanitary Pads Launched For Girls

For the first time in the country, a fully biodegradable low-cost sanitary napkin was released by the Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI), in association with the department of pharmaceuticals, on the occasion of World Environment Day on Tuesday. Reinforcing the theme of ¡®Beat Plastic Pollution¡¯, the Jan Aushadhi Suvidha sanitary napkins were launched before hundreds of people, including 200 girls from five city schools.

BCCL

Containing a special additive that renders the napkin biodegradable when exposed to the sun and air, the oxo-biodegradable napkin starts decomposing six months after its disposal in a landfill, under certain pressure conditions. By comparison, an ordinary pad starts degrading after 500 years. Costing only Rs 2.50 per piece, the aim is to enable more women to have access to affordable and healthy menstruation products.

¡°In India, only 48% of women use sanitary napkins, as the remaining 52% are unable to afford them. This has been done to ensure swachhata, swasthya and suvidha (hygiene, health and convenience) for unprivileged women like garment workers and daily wage workers,¡± said Ananth Kumar, Union minister for chemicals and fertilizers.

BCCL

Trees around city lakes

With support from BBMP, Karnataka forest department, citizen groups, Anganwadi workers and mothers¡¯ groups, United Way of Bengaluru (UWBe) has dedicated June 2018 to increasing the count of trees in Bengaluru. The first phase of the campaign is from June 5 to June 16, and consists of a plantation drive which involves planting of 40,000 saplings around Sheegehalli Lake, Kaudenahalli Lake, Rachenahalli Lake, Sheelavanta Lake and Devasandra Lake. June 23, which United Way observes as ¡®Day of Action¡¯ every year, will see the dispersal of 1 lakh seedballs across the lakes.