My name is Anwitha Srivatsa. I am 16 years old and a Grade 11 student at the Chirec Intl School (IB), Hyderabad.

I am very passionate about helping others, especially those who are less privileged than I am. Helping and benefiting others makes me truly happy. It is a joy to make a difference in another's life, to see them smile.

For women and girls in the homes we come from, sanitary pads are the norm and not a luxury. For girls and women from poor homes, it is a luxury. To manage their menstrual needs they unfortunately are forced to resort to practices that are unhygienic and lead to health issues. The solution is to give them a cost-effective menstrual hygiene kit that lasts long and is not too bulky. It impacts their health, education, and income ( no missing school or work) and gives them immense confidence.

To contribute to society, I have already launched a personal initiative named Padseva, which focuses on producing biodegradable sanitary pads for underprivileged and marginalized women. Through this project, we have raised nearly $6,000, crafted 7,050 pads ourselves, and reached out to 9,000 women in need. However, this initiative stands as a great opportunity to help others out even more.

The Hygiene kit that is being is unique as it is reusable. It has 5 pads - 3 for medium flow and 2 for heavy flow. It lasts for 18 months and reduces dramatically the amount of waste created (as otherwise pads are dumped every month). As they last for so long they are also cost effective. Disposable/Normal sanitary pads must be bought repeatedly, cost INR 50-100 per month, and are very damaging to the environment as they create huge waste.

The cost of this hygiene kit (including distribution, training the women/girls, etc) is just INR 500 per pack of 5. The cost of distribution and training them is very high as it's done in small batches.

I request all of you to support my campaign. Let's come together and do our bit.