DHAKA, Jan 24, 2022 (BSS) - The eco-friendly sanitary napkin by the non-

government social organisation "ELLA Pad" has been gaining popularity among
the women. Being made of garment scarps, the napkin is also considered as
environment-friendly.

   The garment workers are making the napkins with waste clothes of the
garment locally called 'jhut kapor' during their leisure time under the ELLA
project. The Ella Pads attracted women from the very beginning of its
journey. The initiative was taken in 2018 and currently it is appreciated
internationally.

   Twelve women from the remote areas of Gaibandha and Kurigram are making
the 'eco-friendly' sanitary napkin without producing any carbon.

   Entrepreneur of the project Mamunur Rahman said the twelve women are
protecting the environment from not producing 600 kilograms of carbon dioxide
in every three weeks.

   The aim of the initiative is to include 100 women from the remote areas in
the next six months, he added.

   He said the women are making different items including sanitary napkins
and the Ella Pad is providing everything including sewing machines, clothes
and other necessary things.

   The organization is giving training to the women and they are also small
entrepreneurs, Rahman added.

   He said the organization is working for women empowerment.

  Liza, one of the twelve women, said that she didn't think that the scrap
clothes would be used in such way.

   Nahar, one of the beneficiaries of the sanitary napkin, said the pad is
soft and comfortable.

   The pads are being supplied to the local schools and the girl students are
buying the pads free of cost or paying a reasonable price, she added.

  Besides, about 20 lakh face masks were distributed during the COVID-19
pandemic under the Ella Pad.

   The organisation is also working at Ukhiya Upazila of the Cox's Bazar
district where 60 Rohingya people with disabilities were given special
training in this regard.