Balasore: Jayant Kumar Das of Balasore is on a mission. Known as real life 'Padman' of Odisha, Das has heaped on praises from across sectors besides Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.
With an aim to help women in villages lead a healthy and dignified life, Das has set up the 'Stree Swabhiman' centre, a sanitary napkin manufacturing unit at Patrapada in Balasore.
Apart from creating awareness among women on hygienic menstrual practices, Das' initiative is helping women to become financially independent.
Prime Minister Modi and the Union Law Minister Prasad recently tweeted congratulatory messages to Das and praised him for his efforts.
The 'Stree Swabhiman' was set up under the Central government's Common Services Centers (CSC) scheme- a mission mode project of the Digital India Programme with an initial investment of Rs 2.94 lakh.
Kanakalata Mohapatra, a staff of Stree Swabhiman stated, "We want everyone to be healthy. Apart from earning money, we have earned appreciation for our work and that is very satisfying."
"Stree Swabhiman has helped us to live with dignity,"Jyostnarani Nanda, another staff of the centre said.
"Besides manufacturing the sanitary napkins, we are also serious about creating awareness on menstrual hygiene in schools and colleges ," said Das.
It is worth mentioning that Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar's movie 'Padman' was critically acclaimed for promoting health and hygiene of women and bringing down the stigma around menstruation.