PNB Housing Finance – Menstrual hygiene program

PNB Housing Finance has embarked on a noble mission to educate and train rural women about the importance of menstrual hygiene. On 19 January 2023, a programme on menstrual hygiene management (MHM) was launched, as part of which the Company, in collaboration with the Desai Foundation, established a sanitary napkin production unit on Sitapur Road in Lucknow.

The Pehel Foundation, the CSR arm of PNB Housing Finance, has taken this initiative to remove a major barrier to girls’ education and women’s labor-force participation. The programme aims to raise menstrual hygiene awareness among rural women and provide them with easy access to high-quality, low-cost sanitary napkins.

A three-pronged approach, namely raising awareness, establishing a local production unit, and establishing a strong distribution network of female sales representatives, will help foster a sustainable ecosystem and increase financial empowerment.

PNB Housing Finance

“The women workforce forms an integral part of a nation’s progress,” said PNB Housing Finance MD & CEO Girish Kousgi. We believe that such last-mile community programmes contribute to the development of progressive individuals. We hope to empower young women through this initiative by removing the stigma associated with menstrual health, as well as the lack of knowledge and resources for adequate hygiene, which impedes their growth and development.”

While this programme will help rural women find work, the Company is confident that the direct distribution model will increase access to menstrual hygiene, which can act as a catalyst for change in the entire community. It also intends to roll out a similar programme in other cities in the near future.