The saying “necessity is the mother of invention” is well illustrated by the tale of Pandellapalli Vijaya Lakshmi, a resolute lady who used financial hardship as a springboard to effect significant societal change. This mother of two teenage girls bravely entered the world of business at the age of 40, not only to provide for her family but also to help women from low-income backgrounds get menstrual hygiene products.

In an effort to provide their daughters with a brighter future, Vijay Lakshmi and her husband, Pandellapalli Anand Krishna, moved to Tirupati from Rajahmundry in the East Godavari region. Anand Krishna took on a variety of positions, including sales agent and contract worker at the Tirumala temple’s laddu manufacture. But they were still unable to achieve financial security, which made it challenging to provide their girls a good education.

Inspired by her husband’s everyday hardships, Vijay Lakshmi decided to act independently. She entered the realm of business with a mission beyond making money when she opened a sanitary pad manufacturing facility in the top part of their home with funding from a women’s Self-Help Group (SHG).

Vijay Lakshmi made the decision to start a sanitary pad company after making two important observations. First of all, she observed that more women—even those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds—were using sanitary pads instead of more antiquated techniques like rags, leaves, and newspapers as a sign of increased knowledge of menstruation hygiene. She felt that access to appropriate hygiene products should not be a luxury but rather a human right, and that menstrual health was not merely a problem for women.

Second, even though more women were using sanitary pads, their expensive price continued to be a barrier, particularly for households with many women. She was motivated to develop a cost-effective substitute without sacrificing quality because of this financial strain.

With the steadfast help of her husband and children, Anurathna Bhargavi (20) and Lakshmi Vishali (21), who help with marketing and manufacturing, Vijay Lakshmi has effectively established her brand “RAKSH” as an affordable and superior substitute for branded sanitary goods. Her pads, which are made with cutting-edge gel technology, are 10-15% less expensive than popular brands while providing outstanding absorption, guaranteeing comfort and sanitation.

In the future, Vijay Lakshmi hopes to expand her project even further by giving sanitary pads to girls from low-income households and poor women employed in the unorganized sector for free.

The Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas (MEPMA) has been aggressively promoting RAKSH pads among SHG members in recognition of her efforts. The addition of RAKSH pads to the official website has been made possible by Krishnaveni, MEPMA’s City Mission Manager, guaranteeing increased accessibility and reach.

In addition to ensuring her family’s future, Vijay Lakshmi has become a change agent in the field of menstrual hygiene as a result of her journey. Her motivational tale highlights the value of social responsibility, resiliency, and the revolutionary influence of female entrepreneurs in tackling pressing public health issues.