THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, MAY 26, 2026
Widely recognised for co-creating the world’s first reusable sanitary pad
made with banana fibre absorbent, the “Padwoman of India” Anju Bist has been
steadily spearheading a transformative menstrual health movement in Odisha over
the past few years. Through sustained engagement with educators, healthcare
professionals, sustainability advocates and young changemakers, she has been
working to address one of India’s most overlooked public health challenges —
informed menstrual health awareness and access to healthier, sustainable
menstrual choices.
The initiative, Happyness For Her, is the flagship CSR programme of Nexus
Select Malls, undertaken in collaboration with Saukhyam Foundation. A key
component of the initiative is CARE (Campus Action for Reusable Essentials), a
youth-driven campus movement that promotes healthier, more sustainable
menstrual practices among students and young women.
At a special event organised at Nexus Esplanade, students and faculty
members from institutions including IIT Bhubaneswar, KIIT Deemed to be
University, Rama Devi Women's University, Ramadevi Women’s Higher Secondary
School and Shailabala Women’s College were honoured with the CARE Awards for
championing sustainable menstrual practices and driving peer-led behavioural
change across their campuses.
Representatives from AIIMS Bhubaneswar, C. V. Raman Global University,
Utkal University, Kamala Nehru Women’s College and Srusti Academy of Management
and Technology were also recognised during the event. Collectively, these
initiatives have encouraged more than 5,000 young people over the past year
alone to transition from disposable menstrual products to more sustainable
alternatives.
The event also marked the launch of HEAL — Health. Environment. Active
Living. HEAL is a focused intervention aimed at strengthening awareness around
menstrual wellbeing while supporting young girls and women in identifying and
addressing commonly neglected menstrual health concerns such as severe cramps,
irregular cycles and heavy bleeding.
Medical professionals and volunteers from reputed organisations including
FOGSI, Jhpiego, Atmashakti Trust and the Odisha Menstrual Health and Hygiene
Alliance participated in the HEAL launch and discussions on the future of
menstrual health interventions in India.
Speaking on the occasion, Sulochana Das said, “I am very happy to note
that in our city, meaningful initiatives such as Happyness For Her, CARE and
HEAL are making such a deep impact.”
Harsha Bharda, GM - Sustainability & CSR, Nexus Select Malls, also
shared the future roadmap of the initiative. “Nexus Select Malls and Saukhyam
Foundation will be announcing a collaborative menstrual health research study
with AIIMS Bhubaneswar and KIIT University on May 28, Menstrual Hygiene Day.
The study will aim to build deeper understanding around menstrual health
patterns, adolescent wellbeing and the impact of menstrual product choices on
long-term health outcomes.”
Anju Bist, Managing Director of Saukhyam Foundation, added, “Happyness
For Her in Odisha is combining awareness, accessibility and sustainability to
address period poverty and menstrual wellbeing at scale. We will continue
working until reusable becomes mainstream and disposable known as the bad idea
that it is. Thank you Odisha for turning up for this in such a big way.”
With Odisha rapidly emerging as a strong hub for youth-led menstrual
health and sustainability initiatives, organisers believe that the growing
collaboration among educational institutions, healthcare experts and civil
society organisations can serve as a scalable model for the rest of the
country.
