A free distribution of sanitary napkins along with a free screening of the movie Pad Man will take place on its release date on Friday. Anuradha Cineplex and NGO North Eastern Economical Development Society (NEEDS) have jointly undertaken this initiative to raise awareness regarding menstrual health and hygiene in Guwahati.
“We will provide free tickets for 200 seats for the first day first show of Pad Man in our cinema hall,” CEO of Anuradha Cineplex, Meghna Sharma told Northeast Now.
“There will be a stall for sanitary napkins as well. Through this step, we are trying to raise awareness among the people, especially among those belonging to underprivileged backgrounds,” Sharma added.
Speaking to Northeast Now, Founder of NGO Needs, Amardeep Paul said, “We have reached out to women in the slum areas near Bamunimaidam, Commerce College and Paltan Bazar.”
“In addition, twenty-five students from PCPS Girls Polytechnic College will also join in for the movie screening,” he added.
In the coming weeks, they will also jointly organize similar events in Manikpur, Hojai, Mankachar.
Pad Man has garnered a lot of response on social media with Bollywood stars posting pictures of them holding sanitary napkins in their hands to raise awareness and targeting the taboo around menstruation.
Last year, MP Sushmita Dev from Assam had filed a petition to Minister of Finance Arun Jaitley for a 100% tax exemption for the production and distribution of environment and health-friendly pads.
“We are also planning to buy a machine to produce sanitary napkins indigenously and then distribute it for free. Moreover, if small organizations can take such steps, the government should also follow suit,” Paul noted.
“I am not saying tax-free pads. I want to emphasize on absolutely free sanitary napkins,” he reiterated.
