India Sri Lanka Foundation promotes ‘Sinidu’ project for sanitary needs of underprivileged women

Saturday, 9 April 2022 00:46 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

 

The India Sri Lanka Foundation (ISLF) hosted an event on 5 April at Hotel Taj Samudra to introduce a project supported by the Foundation and carried by Sinidu Foundation to meet sanitary needs of underprivileged women in Sri Lanka. 

The event was attended by High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka and ISLF Co-chairperson Gopal Baglay, members of diplomatic corps, representatives from World Bank and Colombo Plan, Rifa Musthapha and Jazaya Mohinudeen, Co-chairs of Sinidu Foundation, Professor Maithree Wikramasinghe, and other women leaders from various walks of life.

Sinidu Foundation is undertaking a project in the area of health and hygiene, which is for women, to women and by women. In her presentation, Rifa Musthapha pointed out that approximately 50% women in Sri Lanka are non-users of sanitary napkins because of high cost. Inspired by the innovation of Dr. Arunachalam Muruganantham (popularly known as ‘Padman’ in India), Sinidu sourced low-cost napkin machine and raw materials from India for producing low-cost biodegradable sanitary napkins for underprivileged women in Sri Lanka. 

Rifa Musthapha stressed that Sinidu Foundation can replicate this model across the country whereby women’s group will not only produce the low-cost sanitary napkins but will also help in employment generation. Earlier this year, ISLF has given an assistance of Rs. 500,000 to Sinidu towards this noble cause. 

Speaking on this occasion, High Commissioner Gopal Baglay highlighted the role of women in the progress and prosperity of nations. Appreciating the developments in this regard in India and Sinidu for undertaking this project in the area of health and hygiene, he stressed the need for organising awareness camps on the project, especially in rural areas.

Since its inception in 1998, the India-Sri Lanka Foundation has been continuously fostering people-to-people ties between the two countries through economic, education, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation. The specific focus of the ISLF pivots around supporting creative initiatives and bringing together the youth and the civil societies of the two countries for growth and prosperity. Till date, the Foundation has funded more than 300 projects worth Rs. 150 million and currently 20 projects in the areas of research, art and culture, social work, science and technology, etc. are in progress.

 

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