Pad Woman of India
Pad woman of India: Dr. Bharati Lavekar
‘Pad Woman of India’ is not one carved through privilege or political ambition, but through deep personal struggle and empathy in. Growing up in a middle class household, she witnessed how menstruation was considered a shame and is in silence. Women around her, including her own family, often relied on unsafe methods like old cloth, ash, or even sand during their periods—not by choice, but due to lack of access, awareness, and affordability. These early experiences planted a seed in her. Prior being elected as a leader, Bharati was already pushing boundaries by talking openly about menstrual health, organizing discussions in underprivileged communities, and challenging age-old taboos in a society that refused to listen.
Her breakthrough came during a visit to her constituency, where she discovered that not much had changed—women were still using cloth, girls were still dropping out of school, and menstruation remained a hushed secret. That moment of disillusionment led to the creation of the Tee Foundation Sanitary Pad Bank, a unique initiative offering not just sanitary pads but dignity, education, and access. Through vending machines, disposal systems, and menstrual kits, she began transforming how communities treated menstruation. But for Dr. Lavekar, the mission was always larger than distributing products. It was about changing mindsets—speaking in classrooms, addressing boys and men, and opening space for conversations where there had only been shame. Even when mocked, ignored, or advised to “talk about cleaner topics,” she refused to stop. Her work was no longer just a campaign—it was a moral responsibility to fight for those who couldn’t fight for themselves.
Dr. Bharati Lavekar stands as a symbol of courage, compassion, and unwavering resolve. Being called the ‘Pad Woman of India’ isn’t a title she chased, but one that found her through her tireless efforts to restore dignity to millions of menstruating women and girls. Her story is a reminder that change doesn’t always begin with power—it often begins in silence, in stigma, in pain, and in the brave heart of someone who refuses to accept things as they are. Through her voice, her work, and her relentless spirit, she is proving that menstruation is not a shameful secret—it is a shared reality that demands awareness, empathy, and respect.
