Anju Thapa GC
For generations, our society’s deep-rooted taboos have made menstruation feel like a curse rather than a natural part of life. Anju Thapa GC knows this reality all too well. Twenty-five years ago, when Anju first got her period, she was unaware of menstrual health and hygiene. She learned about menstrual health from the women in her family, that's how she was introduced to ‘Talo’, an alternative to disposable pad, made from leftover fabric pieces at home. However, a talo wasn’t always reliable; she often had to skip school because disposable pads were inaccessible in her village.When disposable pads finally reached her hometown, Anju hoped her problems were over. But a new challenge emerged: the pads caused her rashes and skin allergies. Talking to friends, she realized she wasn’t alone, many young women silently suffered the same discomfort, with no solution or end to this situation. Out of desperation, she started layering cloth over disposable pads to reduce irritation. That still wasn’t the solution to her problem and had to consult a doctor who recommended her not to use fabric along with pad. Years passed, but the problem persisted. She talked about it with her husband who was working abroad,who sent her a reusable pad, hoping this would be a better alternative. She used it for 2 years and realized how much easier, healthier, and more convenient menstruation could be. But she also realized it wasn’t the only one in need of this solution, it had to reach more women. She saw an opportunity to turn her personal struggle into social change. After completing her studies, Anju worked at a bank. But when she had her baby, she used her postpartum break to research reusable pads. Later she decided to quit her job and start her enterprise. She wanted to introduce reusable pads in tilottama municipality.She discussed her plan with her husband who was supportive of her decision. At first, she faced several criticism for leaving a bank job to stitch fabric and make pads. But Anju was determined to provide the access to reusable pads to every woman who was suffering from the same problem as hers. It not only had health benefits, but it was also environmentally friendly and cost effective as one reusable pad would last up to 3 years. With these many benefits in hand, she saw this as a great opportunity to start her own enterprise “Anju Reusable pad”. With just NPR 13,000 invested in a sewing machine, she started stitching pads to help other women live healthier, freer lives.What started as a one-woman mission has now grown into a thriving enterprise valued at NPR 25 lakh. Anju’s husband, who returned home to support her dream, now works alongside her. Together, they have created employment for four other women from their community. Today, Anju Reusable Pad not only produces reusable pads but also postpartum clothing sets , providing safe, affordable, and eco-friendly alternatives for women. Her products were slowly getting acceptance from people of Tilotama , but this problem lies beyond her community. She wanted to reach more women and make their life easier with the safer alternative of pad. Hence, Anju started promoting her products in social media platforms like facebook, instagram and tiktok to educate more women about menstrual health and benefits of reusable pads. With a monthly turnover of NPR 1.5 lakh and a profit of NPR 50,000, Anju’s business is thriving. But for her, profit is only one part of the mission. Her goal is to shatter myths around menstruation and help women see it as a blessing, not a burden. What started as criticism for leaving a respectable bank job has now turned into admiration for her courage, impact, and dedication. Anju was selected among the top 10 entrepreneurs in the Daayitwa’s Rural Enterprise Acceleration Program (REAP) from Tilotama municipality. The program played a crucial role in her entrepreneurial journey. In the early days, Anju struggled to keep proper financial records and often felt she wasn’t personally benefitting from her business. Through REAP, she was able to tackle this problem and enhance her business strategically. She learned the importance of maintaining a finance logsheet to identify whether the business was making a profit or loss. She also learnt to separate a certain sum of money as her own salary which motivated her to be more productive . Anju and her husband hustled every morning to start the work as early as they could. However, their productivity couldn't give them the same return as they lacked the market idea. This program bridged that gap. She learned how to pitch their products to people in the market and help people understand about reusable pads and its benefits. Their digital marketing skills also improved, boosting their sales. Programs like REAP are very essential for women entrepreneurs like me and she hopes for more such initiatives and opportunities in the future. She expresses her happiness and gratitude towards Daayitwa for this opportunity. Anju firmly believes no woman should limit herself to household chores alone. She encourages women to start something of their own, no matter how small. They should realize their worth and create new opportunities for themselves. As a former bank employee, she finds enterprise much better than doing a job. Through her enterprise, she has not only benefited herself , but also created employment for 4 other women from her community. She has gained financial independence as well trust and respect from people. Anju wants to grow her enterprise even further. She plans to expand her product line to include period panties, catered for school girls who struggle with pads. She hopes this new product will make school life safer and more comfortable for young girls, so they never have to miss classes the way she once did. Programs like REAP have helped hidden rural entrepreneurs like Anju gain visibility, skills, and confidence to transform local lives. Anju Thapa GC’s journey proves that with vision, courage, and support, an idea stitched together with scraps can grow into an enterprise that changes society for the better.