The short answer: Many girls and women in India still manage their periods with old cloth, mostly because pads cost money every month and used pads are hard to dispose of. CSR teams and NGOs increasingly fund reusable cloth pads because one kit can last a person two to three years. Programmes work best when the pads come with education, a private place to wash and dry them, and a follow-up visit to check they are being used.
The access gap, in numbers
The fifth National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019–21) asked women aged 15 to 24 what they use during their period. Nationally, 78% used a method the survey counts as hygienic: sanitary napkins, locally prepared napkins, tampons or menstrual cups. At the same time, about half still used cloth, on its own or alongside other products.
The gap follows money, schooling and geography:
- Rural and urban: 73% of rural women used a hygienic method, against 90% of urban women.
- Wealth: 95% of women in the richest households did, against 54% in the poorest.
- Schooling: 90% of women with 12 or more years of schooling did, against 44% with none.
- States: the lowest figures were in Bihar (59%), Madhya Pradesh (61%) and Meghalaya (65%).
One point is easy to miss. NFHS counts "cloth" as unhygienic because it usually means old fabric, reused without proper washing or drying. A purpose-made cloth pad, with absorbent layers, a leak-resistant base and wings, washed with detergent and dried properly, is a different product. That difference is what most reusable-pad programmes are built on.
Why cloth pads suit large programmes
One kit, years of use
A disposable-pad programme has to deliver supplies every month. If the supply breaks, because of budget, transport or a school holiday, girls go back to rags. A reusable kit is delivered once and lasts for years. Our cloth pads, for example, last 100+ washes, or 2 to 3 years with care.
Less waste to deal with
Where waste collection is weak, used disposable pads are buried, dumped or burnt. Toxics Link's 2021 study found that small, low-temperature incinerators used in many schools and hostels can release harmful fumes. Reusable pads sharply reduce what needs to be thrown away.
It fits the Indian context
A 2021 UN Environment Programme review of life cycle studies included one that compared menstrual products in Europe, the USA and India. In the Indian context, locally made reusable pads had environmental impacts comparable to the menstrual cup and lower than disposables. When affordability and social acceptance were also weighed, the reusable pad came out as the preferred option for India.
It builds on a familiar habit
Many women already use cloth. A well-made cloth pad builds on that habit rather than asking for something entirely new, which makes uptake easier than with products such as menstrual cups that need more explanation.
Where cloth pads are not the right fit
Cloth pads need water and a private place to wash and dry them, ideally in sunlight. Where that is not possible, such as in some hostels, camps or water-scarce areas, disposable pads with a proper disposal plan, or a mix of both, may serve people better. A good programme asks this question first.
How CSR funding works for menstrual health
Under Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013, companies above set thresholds of net worth, turnover or profit must spend at least 2% of their average net profit from the previous three years on CSR. The activities that qualify are listed in Schedule VII of the Act.
Most menstrual health programmes fall under item (i) of Schedule VII, which covers promoting health care, including preventive health care, and sanitation. Programmes for women and girls can also relate to item (iii), on promoting gender equality and empowering women. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has said the Schedule should be interpreted liberally, but CSR spending is decided by each company's board and CSR committee, so confirm eligibility for your specific project with them.
Many companies fund programmes through implementing NGOs. These organisations need to be registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs through Form CSR-1 to receive CSR funds.
What a good programme includes
1. A needs assessment
Before buying anything, talk to the girls and women the programme is for. What do they use now? Is there water at home and at school? Is there a private place to wash and dry pads? Are there working toilets at school? The answers decide the product mix.
2. The right product specification
Look for:
- Two sizes: a regular size for lighter days and a longer one for heavy days and nights. Ours are 280 mm (Regular) and 320 mm (Maxi).
- A soft top layer: cotton is a good choice for sensitive skin.
- Darker colours: maroon or assorted prints show fewer stains, which matters to girls who dry pads where others can see.
- Secure wings: snap-button wings keep the pad in place through school and work.
- Certification: ask your supplier for their BIS licence under IS 17514, the Indian Standard for reusable sanitary pads. Ours is available on request.
3. A complete kit
Pads alone are not enough. A kit that people actually use usually includes:
- enough pads to rotate while others dry, typically 6 to 10 per person
- a wash bag to carry used pads home discreetly
- underwear in the right sizes, since pads need well-fitting underwear to stay in place
- a mild detergent or soap
- simple instructions with pictures, in the local language
4. An education session
Cover the menstrual cycle, how to use, wash and dry pads, when to replace them, and the myths people have grown up with. Where possible, include mothers, teachers and boys, because silence at home and in school is often the biggest barrier.
5. Space and water
UNEP stresses that reusable products work only where people have private, clean toilets with running water. In schools, that means working toilets, water and bins. At home, it means a private place to dry pads, ideally in the sun.
6. Follow-up at three and six months
Visit again. Are the pads being used? Are they washed and dried properly? Are any damaged? A short follow-up catches problems early and gives you the data your CSR report needs.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Handing over pads without teaching washing and drying. Pads stored damp are uncomfortable and get thrown away.
- One size for everyone. Heavy days and nights need a longer pad.
- Too few pads per person. If there are not enough to rotate, people go back to old cloth.
- No follow-up. Without it, there is no way to know whether the programme worked.
- Forgetting disposal. Most people will still use some disposables, so the programme should cover how to wrap and dispose of them.
How Fabpad works with CSR teams and NGOs
Fabpad is a women-led Indian period care brand, making reusable period products since 2020. We work with CSR teams and NGOs on menstrual hygiene kits:
- Kits built to your brief: cloth pads in Regular and Maxi sizes, period panties, wash bags and our liquid detergent, combined to suit the people you are reaching.
- Volume: we can produce up to 1,00,000 kits a month.
- Our own manufacturing: we design and quality-check every product, and can supply under your programme's branding through our private label service.
- Project Padma: for every 25 pads we sell, we donate one. Through Project Padma, more than ₹2 crore has been raised, more than 85,000 hygiene kits distributed through verified NGOs, and more than 85,000 women reached.
To discuss a programme, tell us the number of people, the region and your timeline through our commercial enquiries page, and we will share kit options, pricing and lead times.
A quick checklist for CSR teams
- Needs assessment done, with water, privacy and toilets checked
- Two pad sizes, a soft top layer and darker colours chosen
- 6 to 10 pads per person, plus wash bag, underwear and detergent
- Supplier's BIS licence for IS 17514 seen
- Education session planned, in the local language
- Implementing NGO registered for CSR funds
- Follow-up visits booked at three and six months
Frequently asked questions
Are cloth pads hygienic?
Yes, when they are rinsed, washed with detergent, dried completely and replaced when worn out. Problems come from old cloth reused without proper washing or drying, which is why education is part of every good programme.
How many cloth pads does each person need?
Usually 6 to 10, so there is always a clean, dry pad while others are drying.
How long do reusable cloth pads last?
Fabpad cloth pads last 100+ washes, or 2 to 3 years with proper care.
Can CSR funds be used to buy cloth pads?
Menstrual hygiene programmes generally fall under item (i) of Schedule VII, which covers health care and sanitation. Your CSR committee makes the final decision for each project.
Can kits carry our company's or NGO's branding?
Yes. We can supply kits and packaging under your programme's branding.
Sources
- National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), 2019–21, as reported by The Tribune and DT Next.
- United Nations Environment Programme (2021). Single-use menstrual products and their alternatives: Recommendations from Life Cycle Assessments.
- Toxics Link (2021). Menstrual Products and Their Disposal.
- Ministry of Corporate Affairs, reply in Parliament on Schedule VII CSR activities, via Digital Sansad.