With an aim to provide a better hygiene experience to girls and women, she started a sanitary pad packaging unit at Chandikhol market in Jajpur district. As of now, her products initially catering to the local market have reached 10 districts, earning her the name of a young entrepreneur.
Meet Baisakhi Jena who has been a source of inspiration for many.
Jena said she had cherished a dream to start a woman-centric business and fulfilled it by setting up a sanitary pad manufacturing unit in May this year. She is manufacturing the sanitary pad under the brand name of ‘Flowra’.
While she has a manufacturing unit in Bangalore, the packaging is being done at the Chandikhol unit where several women are working from dawn to dusk.
“I am happy that I have provided employment to women and at the same time, taken care of their health,” said Jena.
“If a business is started without an objective, there is hardly any motivation. But I had cherished a dream to start a women-centric business. With this business, I have provided not only employment to women but also sanitary pads to them, “observed Jena.
“From my own experience, I can say school and college-going girls and women face problems at workplace when the pad is of inferior quality. My aim is to do away with this problem by providing a better-quality pad. Besides this, I also want to create awareness among girls and women who are still not using pads so that they can use them and maintain hygiene,” added Jena.
She said her target is to be a PAN Odisha and India player.
Jena’s family members too feel proud of her initiative.
“It has been four to six months since she started her business. And it is running smoothly. We are also receiving a good response as our quality is good in comparison to others,” claimed Bibhukanta Jena, Baisakhi’s brother.
Jena is working by putting her heart and soul into the business. She even guides her women employees on how to maintain the quality of the package. The employees are also happy for being self-reliant.
“I wanted to be self-reliant so I joined her and am happy with whatever salary I am receiving,” said Sobhashree Jena.
Akas Parida, who is taking care of the marketing part, said, “Our product’s quality is very good and its demand is growing. Our aim is to have shared in the Odisha market. There are 10 to 15 others working with me. I am happy with my salary.”