From Pain to Power: How One Woman’s Journey Sparked a Menstrual Revolution in Rural India
Geeta Solanki’s story begins with pain — a pain familiar to millions of women but rarely spoken aloud. Curling up in discomfort, she endured the agonizing swell of a Bartholin’s cyst, an inflamed lump near the vaginal opening that made every movement a struggle. And just when she thought it couldn’t get worse, her period began. The thin plastic pad she reached for felt like sandpaper against her already tender skin. “I can’t use this, I just can’t,” she cried out.
Her mother entered the room silently, watching her daughter’s distress. Without a word, she handed Geeta a soft cotton cloth. “Try this instead,” she said gently.
At first, Geeta recoiled. “This is gross. It will give me an infection,” she protested. But her mother’s calm certainty was unwavering. “I’ve used this all my life. So did your grandmother. We never got infected.”
Too drained to argue, Geeta tried it. To her surprise, the cloth was gentle and soothing. The rashes didn’t come. The pain eased. And in that quiet moment, something shifted.
This small act of love and care sparked in Geeta a lifelong mission — one that would transform not only her own life but the lives of thousands of women across rural India.
Growing Up in Veraval: Witnessing the Struggles of Rural Women
Geeta’s childhood in Veraval, a coastal town in Gujarat’s Saurashtra region, was surrounded by the rhythms of agricultural life. Her extended family worked hard, and the household buzzed with stories, chores, and shared hardships. But one recurring theme shadowed the women’s conversations: the indignity and difficulty of managing menstruation in a place where sanitary pads were rare luxuries.
Disposable pads were expensive — too expensive for daily use. Women would save them for weddings, festivals, or long journeys. On ordinary days, they stretched a single pad across hours, enduring discomfort, leaks, and infections. Rashes were common. Shame and silence reigned.
Geeta remembered her cousins’ stories and the painful truth that many girls dropped out of school during their periods simply because they had no means to manage them safely and privately. These memories planted a seed in her heart, which grew as she pursued work as a childbirth educator and learned more about women’s health.
The Birth of Unipads: A Dream Rooted in Dignity and Sustainability
Driven by her experience and a growing curiosity about sustainable alternatives, Geeta began researching reusable cloth pads. After testing a few available products, she knew there was room for improvement — both in affordability and comfort.
Together with her sister, Kajal Khava, and brother-in-law, Kishor Khava, she co-founded Unipads, a startup with a mission to provide sustainable, affordable, and dignified menstrual hygiene solutions tailored for rural women.
Their goal was clear: to create a product that was not only functional but also empowering — one that women could feel proud to use and sell.
Breaking Taboos: Starting a Business in a Traditional Village
Launching a sanitary pad startup in Veraval was no easy feat. None of the founders had experience in manufacturing, and the taboo surrounding menstruation made marketing and acceptance challenging.
Many women were willing to work, but their husbands and elders opposed it. Talking about periods was considered shameful. So the team took a creative approach.
They invited local women to join a paid, month-long tailoring course, learning sewing skills while slowly opening up about their experiences with menstruation. The classes were held in the village to accommodate families and build trust.
For many women, this was their first opportunity to earn money with dignity, learning a skill they could be proud of. More than that, it was the first time they could openly discuss something so deeply personal.
The Power of the Kalyani Network: Women Supporting Women
By the end of the course, Geeta invited the women to join the Unipads production team. Eleven returned the next day — a small but mighty beginning.
Today, the network of Kalyanis — women resellers and educators — has grown to nearly 200 across Gujarat. These women earn commissions by selling reusable pads in their villages, breaking down barriers and creating livelihoods.
For women who once had to travel miles for pads, this local access meant freedom. But even more powerful was the confidence that came from helping others.
Manisha, one of the original Kalyanis, shared how Unipads transformed her life: “Only after joining did I understand menstruation. In school, they never taught us. Now, I speak to girls in schools about it.”
Her confidence has soared — so much so that she now contributes financially to her household and dreams bigger for herself and her daughters.
Overcoming Resistance: Challenging Stigma Head-On
The path was not without struggle. Many women faced resistance from family members who still viewed menstruation as unclean.
Nidhi, the coordinator of the Kalyani network, recalled, “Selling pads or talking about periods was taboo. Husbands and elders often disapproved.”
These beliefs are deeply ingrained across India — from rural villages to cities, across caste and class. Girls grow up hearing they must avoid certain places or tasks during menstruation.
Yet, Geeta observed that rural women often welcomed conversations about menstruation because they lived with the consequences of silence — shame, exclusion, and illness.
Sustainable and Practical: The Unipad Design
The Unipad kit contains four reusable pads made from layers of soft fleece and absorbent material, topped with a leakproof bottom coated with a thin layer of PUL fabric. Unlike disposable pads, Unipads can be washed and reused for up to 18 months — reducing waste and expense.
Each pad is secured with buttons, avoiding adhesives that can cause irritation. The reusable design also aligns with environmental concerns, as conventional pads take centuries to decompose.
This thoughtful product design reflects Unipads’ commitment to dignity, comfort, and sustainability.
From Kitchens to Cannes: Turning Exclusion into Protest
Unipads did more than just sell pads — they challenged social norms.
In parts of Gujarat, menstruating women working in food preparation were labeled “adeli” and banned from kitchens during their periods. For daily-wage workers, this meant losing income every month.
In response, Unipads organized a bold protest. The very women who were excluded cooked and served a full-course meal at an upscale Ahmedabad restaurant. Celebrities, influencers, and community leaders attended, not only to dine but to witness a statement against stigma.
The event was filmed and became a documentary that won the Silver Glass Lion at the Cannes Creativity Festival — turning a local issue into an international conversation.
‘School Miles’: Helping Girls Stay in School
Another groundbreaking initiative is the ‘School Miles’ campaign, piloted in Gujarat and Rajasthan. Focused on increasing school attendance during menstruation, the program provides adolescent girls with reusable Unipads, undergarments, soap, hot water bags, and a cloth bag made by local women.
Attendance is tracked, and girls showing improvement receive “education and hygiene recharges” — new supplies or rewards like meals, meetings with role models, or access to online courses.
Every time a girl chooses to attend school during her period, she exercises courage — and Unipads ensures someone notices.
Beyond Pads: Creating a Movement for Change
Unipads has sold over 4 million kits and expanded into mainstream markets through partnerships with brands like Sirona and Pee Safe.
Yet their mission goes far beyond numbers.
They have built a movement of women who no longer hide their periods, who educate others, who earn livelihoods, and who reclaim their dignity. They rewrite narratives about menstruation, from shame and silence to empowerment and pride.
Geeta’s journey is a testament to how a small act — a mother’s cloth passed to her daughter — can ripple out to change entire communities.
Words of Inspiration: What Geeta’s Story Teaches Us
Geeta Solanki’s story is not just about menstrual hygiene. It is a story of resilience, hope, and transformation.
It shows how pain can be a catalyst for innovation, how tradition can be honored yet reimagined, and how silence can be broken through courage and community.
Her work is a beacon for women everywhere, reminding us that dignity is not a luxury — it is a right.
That change begins when we speak, when we listen, and when we stand together.
Disclaimer
This story is inspired by real events and people dedicated to advancing menstrual hygiene and women’s empowerment in rural India. All names, locations, and events are used with permission or are public knowledge. The story aims to raise awareness, promote dignity, and inspire action around menstrual health.
Medical information about Bartholin’s cysts and menstrual hygiene products is presented for general understanding and should not replace professional healthcare advice. Readers experiencing similar health concerns should consult qualified medical professionals.