His modest workshop in the sleepy locality of KNG Pudur in Coimbatore stocks a few machines that spit out the revolutionary low-cost sanitary napkins. Menstrual man Arunachalam Muruganantham, perched on his chair, goes on with his business even as he sorts out his visa applications to the different countries he has been invited to deliver keynote seminars. “All these visits are by invitation only. I had never stepped out of the city before. Today, I rub shoulders with biggies across the world,” says Muruganantham, son of a poor handloom weaver.

The social entrepreneur has found a place in the list of 100 Most Influential People in the World by an international magazine, that too with the likes of Narendra Modi, Arvind Kejriwal and Arundhati Roy. “When I got the news, I didn’t realize it was a big achievement. It was my wife, who told me that it was a feat I should be proud of.”

The tryst with the production of low-cost sanitary napkin producing machines began when Muruganantham saw his wife using a rag cloth during those days of the month. “I wouldn’t even clean my scooter with that. That’s when it struck me that most of the women, especially in the rural areas are not aware of sanitary napkins and those who did, couldn’t afford it. I studied women across the country and I was shocked to find out that only 5 per cent of them (excluding the metros) were aware of sanitary napkins. Women in rural households used saw dust, dry leaves and ashes on those days. When I showed these slides abroad, the audience was stunned. I started working on the machines with utmost care. No one volunteered to be my subject and when I tested these pads on myself, I was called a pervert. It was journey where I had to battle many ordeals.”

Muruganantham’s hard work bore fruits when his work was approved by IIT Madras in 2009. “It was a strange ambiance there. Everyone out there was conversing in English and I didn’t understand a word of what they were saying. I thought I would never fit into the corporate set up. But when my design was finally approved, I was glad that I was not well- educated as I didn’t have learn about ‘unnecessary’ things. I then supplied the machine to women self help groups, who now not only make a living out of it, but also take care of their ‘monthly’ issues,” says Muruganantham, who strongly believe in the cause of women empowerment. “We keep discussing nuclear power and other issues but we should spare a thought to the basic needs of our women. Now that I am on a mission to spread awareness about menstrual hygiene and help women, I would be glad even if I am able to raise the awareness level to 10 per cent.”

He also emphasizes that entrepreneurship is the need of the hour. “Every year, in our country, we churn out more job seekers rather than job creators. We have to look at new business models, identify a problem and work on a solution for the same. Today, the machines I have created have provided employment to many women in the rural areas across the country. Why can’t youngsters follow suit?”

As the conversation veers to his future plans, Muruganantham says, “I am now working on a model of suspended agriculture that is growing plants without water and sand,” he says as shows us a plant hanging from the ceiling of his factory. “This is to help the landless farmers,” he says with a grin.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore / by P. Sangeetha, TNN / june 07th, 2014