Sanitary pad production unit at Central Jail

In a unique initiative, the inmates of Dimapur central jail, who underwent sanitary pads manufacturing training on March 10 and 11, 2022, have started to make low-cost sanitary pads under NabFoundation’s “My Pads My right” project funded by NABFINS—both subsidiaries of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
A total of four staff of Dimapur central jail and 13 inmates underwent the training programme. The staff trainees would later act as trainers for similar training programmes. At present there are 169 inmates in Dimapur central jail.
NABARD chairman Dr. GR Chintala, who paid a visit to the sanitary manufacturing unit at central jail here Tuesday, said that he was satisfied with the product being manufactured by the inmates.
Dr. Chintala expressed hope that the launching of the manufacturing unit will not only help the inmates sustain their livelihood but also will reach out to the provide sterilised pads in market for the women in a reasonable price.
Regarding marketing, Dr. GR Chintala said that the unit would be tying up with various NGOs in reaching out to the market.
The production unit has three machines—one each for manufacturing, sanitisation, and packaging.
The inmates went through a rigorous training and assessment process, NABARD chairman, adding that the training was conducted keeping in mind their field of interest, dedication to work and other things.
At present, he said that the inmates could not manufacture more products due the shortage of machineries as well as shortage of electricity at times. However, NABARD chairman assured that they would try to provide more machineries to revamp the product.
During his visit, the trained inmates demonstrated the entire process of manufacturing the pads including packaging, sealing after proper sterilization and readying for dispatch.
The trainees shared grievances related to power shortage and machineries
The low-cost sanitary napkins made by the inmates will be sold at subsidised rates in the market which they tied up with an NGO. The profit earned would be put in the bank accounts of inmates to be used after their release, said jailor central jail Dimapur, Dr. Oben Yanthan.
He said that in a day the trainees manufacture seven to eight packets, which comes to around 200 packets a month. Dr. Yanthan also said that the one packet comprises of eight sanitary pads, which would be sold Rs. 30 per packet.
The jailor also highlighted about the various activities that were carried out to continue helping the prisons as well as supplementing the resources for reform and reintegration of inmates and their families in the society.
Amongst the many activities, he said that handicrafts were on high demand and that they have been manufacturing as per the demand of the customers.
Earlier, AIG, prisons central jail Dimapur, Zuchamo Lotha received the NABARD chairman.