Jayashree Industries

One Indian entrepreneur has given women from low income dignity

Overview

Arunachalam Muruganantham is an inventor from rural Coimbatore in the southern state of Tamil Nadu India who uncovered the need for an inexpensive solution to unsanitary and unhygienic practices around menstruation in rural India. He created and patented a machine which could manufacture low cost sanitary pads for less than a third of the cost of commercial pads. Muruganantham founded the company Jayashree Industries which markets these machines to rural women all over India and provides them employment and a way to uplift them from poverty. His innovation has been praised for its simplicity and cost effectiveness and his commitment to his society has earned him several awards. Despite offers from several corporate entities to commercialize his venture he has refused to sell out and continues to provide these machines to self help groups (SHGs) run by women all over India.